Adoption of Electric and Hybrid Passenger Cars in the EU

Key Takeaways

• In 2024, electricity-powered cars accounted for 13.5% of new passenger cars in the EU. Hybrid-electric passenger cars made up a larger share, with petrol-electric hybrids at 26.5% and diesel-electric hybrids at 3.6%.
• Denmark (51%), Malta (37.7%), Sweden (35%), and the Netherlands (35%) lead in adopting electric-powered passenger cars, supported by tax incentives, charging access, and policy alignment.
• In larger markets like Germany and France, the adoption of electric passenger cars is more gradual despite strong policy support, reflecting the challenges of scale, infrastructure rollout, and varied driving needs.
• Across the EU, hybrid-electric passenger cars account for a larger share of new passenger cars than electricity-powered ones. This suggests that the shift toward lower-emission transport is underway, but is not yet centered on electric passenger cars.

Across the European Union, the transition toward lower-emission transport is shaped by both market demand and binding EU policy, especially the revised CO2 standards for new cars and vans.

Under Regulation (EU) 2023/851, the EU set a 100% CO2 emissions reduction target for new passenger cars and vans from 2035 onwards, requiring that new vehicles sold be zero-emission.

In 2024, electricity-powered passenger cars accounted for 13.5% of all new passenger cars in the EU. Hybrid electric-powered ones, particularly those with diesel engines, made up a significantly larger share.

This suggests that the path towards lower emissions is clear, but countries are taking different routes toward it.

Electric and Hybrid-Electric Passenger Cars in the EU

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In some countries, electric passenger cars now make up a large share of new passenger cars.

• Denmark: 51%
• Malta: 37.7%
• Sweden: 35%
• Netherlands: 35%

Together, they share conditions that support EV adoption.

One of the most consistent drivers is policy and taxation. In countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, tax systems tend to make petrol and diesel passenger cars significantly more expensive to buy or own, while electric-powered ones benefit from lower registration or ownership costs. This shifts the price balance in favor of electric passenger cars.

Charging infrastructure also plays an important role. These countries have more developed and accessible charging networks, alongside higher rates of home charging, which makes everyday use more practical.

Despite Malta’s small market size (7,683 new passenger cars), its 37.7% share of electricity-powered cars places it among the EU’s leading adopters. This is mainly backed by strong purchase incentives, alongside charging access and policy support.

Across countries of very different sizes, the adoption of electric passenger cars tends to accelerate when cost, infrastructure, and policy incentives align, reducing both the financial and practical barriers to switching.

In larger markets such as Germany and France, the transition appears more gradual.

• Germany: 13.5% electric
• France: 16.6% electric

At the same time, hybrid-electric passenger cars account for a significant share of new passenger cars:

• France: 32.9% hybrid electric-petrol
• Germany: 20.3% hybrid electricc-petrol

Germany and France both support the shift toward electric passenger cars through national and EU policy, alongside the continued expansion of charging networks. However, they also have two of the largest and most diverse car markets in the EU. 

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That scale matters. Larger countries need more extensive charging networks and must serve a wider range of driving needs, from city commuting to long-distance travel. This can make it harder for adoption of electric passenger cars to expand evenly across the country.

As a result, while Germany and France lead in total electric passenger car numbers, the share of these cars out of their total passenger cars remains lower than in smaller, more concentrated markets.

In both countries, hybrid-electric passenger cars outnumber electricity-powered ones. This suggests that the shift toward lower-emission vehicles is underway, without requiring drivers to switch fully to electric passenger cars.

Further south and east, the transition follows a similar lane.

In Italy and Spain, electric passenger cars make up a relatively small share of new passenger cars in the EU:

• Italy: 4.2%
• Spain: 5.6%

At the same time, hybrid electric-petrol passenger cars account for a much larger share:

• Italy: 34.7%
• Spain: 32.8%

Across the EU, the move toward lower-emission passenger cars is clear, but the path is not uniform.

In some countries, adoption is moving quickly toward fully electric passenger cars. In others, hybrid-electric ones make up a larger share of new passenger cars, indicating a more gradual change in the new-car market.

Rather than a single transition from petrol or diesel to electric, there is a broader adjustment where different technologies contribute to reducing emissions at different speeds.