The UK has officially overtaken Germany to become Europe’s largest market for new pure electric passenger cars in 2024, registering 381,970 new BEVs, according to Schmidt Automotive Research and industry data.
This marks a significant milestone, as the UK’s total was just over 1,000 units higher than Germany’s 380,609 BEVs. The UK accounted for 19.6% of all new car registrations, or roughly one in every five new cars, while Germany’s performance fell short due to a cyclical dip and pausing of new BEV model launches.
The introduction of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate set at 22%, along with credit banking provisions, explains some of the discrepancy between the UK and Germany’s market performances.
Industry experts suggest that this is a precursor to the upcoming regulatory changes in the EU, which will require automakers to meet stricter CO2 emission targets starting in 2025. Despite Germany’s recent struggles, analysts believe that automakers will meet upcoming emission targets as they adjust their strategies.
OEMs across the EU, including Norway and Iceland, are preparing for an average CO2 emission target of 93.6g/km by 2025, reflecting a 15% reduction from the 2021–2024 period. The market shift is expected to continue as manufacturers gear up for the regulatory pressures in the coming years.
However, the drop in BEV sales in Germany and France in 2024 is attributed to a temporary lull in new model launches, as manufacturers align their strategies for 2025.
