Electric cars outsold diesel cars for the first time in Europe in December, as consumers opted for subsidized zero-emission vehicles instead of diesel-dependent ones, the Financial Times reported.
In 18 European markets, including the UK, more than a fifth of new car sales come from electric vehicles, compared with less than 19% of diesel sales, according to data compiled by Matias Schmidt, an independent analyst for the auto industry.
Sales of electric vehicles are growing steadily, thanks to government subsidies from countries such as Germany, as well as strict rules in 2020 requiring EU automakers to sell low-emission vehicles. That trend accelerated in the fourth quarter of last year, when Tesla delivered a record 309,000 electric vehicles, proving itself well-adapted to semiconductor supply chain bottlenecks.
European carmakers are also reducing the overall carbon footprint of their vehicles. European carmakers have been fined by the EU after prioritizing production of the most profitable models, mainly polluting SUVs, during a supply chain crisis. To avoid fines, European automakers boosted sales of electric vehicles in December.
The result is a record 176,000 EV sales in Western Europe in December 2021, up more than 6% year-on-year; by comparison, diesel sales were close to 160,000.
Diesel car sales have been falling steadily since Volkswagen was found to have falsified emissions tests on 11 million diesel engines. At that time, in 18 European countries, diesel vehicles accounted for far more than half of sales.
"In September 2015, the Volkswagen 'Dieselgate' scandal came to light, and within 30 days of it being exposed, Volkswagen had plans to launch its first electric vehicle, the ID.3," Schmidt said. This is Volkswagen's flagship electric car, Official launch in 2020.
Last year, Volkswagen maintained its position as a major electric car maker in the Western European market. Of the 350 EVs sold in Western Europe last year, more than 310,000 EVs were sold by Volkswagen.
Many new electric models are attracting new consumers, Schmidt added, and bans on older diesel vehicles in some cities and higher taxes on diesel vehicles in key markets have further impacted diesel sales.
In Germany, Europe's biggest car market, the resale value of diesel cars is also uncertain. Germany's new coalition government has signaled its intention to reconsider the fuel tax credit, which is now about 14 cents a litre cheaper than premium petrol.
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