European new car sales fell by 2% in November, marking a return to negative growth after a brief uptick in October, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The decline was driven by significant drops in France and Italy, coupled with stagnant performance in Germany. While hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) registrations continued to rise, the slowdown in fully electric vehicle (BEV) sales weighed heavily on the market.
Registrations across the EU, Britain, and EFTA totaled 1.06 million units in November. Among major automakers, Volkswagen and Renault posted year-on-year growth of 2.8% and 9.2%, respectively, while Stellantis saw a 10.8% decline. Sales of BEVs fell 9.5%, particularly in France and Germany, whereas HEV sales surged 18.5%, marking their third consecutive month of growth. Hybrid and electrified vehicles accounted for 55.8% of all passenger car registrations, up from 51.8% in November 2023.
Tesla and China’s SAIC Motor experienced notable setbacks, with sales declining 40.9% and 7.8%, respectively, as new EU tariffs on Chinese-made cars took effect in November. Sigrid de Vries, ACEA’s Director General, highlighted ongoing challenges for European automakers. “We have very costly energy and electricity prices. We don’t have the raw materials and the supply chain that we need for electrification yet in Europe itself,” de Vries told.
With stricter EU carbon dioxide emissions targets approaching in 2024, ACEA emphasized the need to revisit current regulations. The industry group has engaged with EU lawmakers, arguing that while plans for electrification appear sound on paper, they fall short in addressing real-world challenges. Starting January 1, ACEA will welcome Mercedes Chairman Ola Källenius as its new president and see Stellantis rejoin the organization.