IAA – First global e-mobility ranking

The total number of electric cars worldwide can be estimated at approx. ten million vehicles. In absolute numbers, the most electric cars are in China (4.2 million), followed by Europe (3.2 million) and the US (1.7 million).

The differences in market development between continents became especially clear last year. In absolute numbers, Europe registered the most new electric cars in 2020, with a total of 1,368,167 vehicles: As a result, it overtook China (1,246,289 cars) for the first time (see table below). Germany once again stands out among European countries with a total of 394,943 new vehicle registrations.

By comparison, 338,359 new electric vehicles were registered in China in 2016, 152,326 in the US (2020: 302,929) and 25,214 in Germany. Five years ago, the total for the whole of Europe was 210,150. This means European sales more than quadrupled during the five years to 2020.

If we count the number of electric cars per 1,000 inhabitants, Europe also leads the way: Statistically, there are 6.1 electrified vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to the global average of 1.4. The figures for international leaders Norway (81.0), Iceland (36.8) and Sweden (20.6) are significantly higher. These examples illustrate how the European market is now setting the pace internationally for development of e-mobility.

Total number of electric cars worldwide: More than 40 percent of all electric vehicles drive on Chinese roads

Electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) are currently distributed very unevenly between different regions of the world: With 4.2 million vehicles, China currently tops registrations worldwide and has done so since 2010 (cumulative total 9.88 million). However, this lead is shrinking: The European market, which includes the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), in addition to the European Union, accounts for a total of 3.2 million electric vehicles. The US comes in third with 1.7 million vehicles. If we break down the European countries individually, Germany ranks third (702,981) behind the US. If the number of vehicles in Germany is added to the other top European markets – the UK (447,486), Norway (433,609) and France (413,212) – the figure even exceeds that for the US. These four countries combined (Germany, the UK, Norway and France) account for more than half the vehicles currently on the roads in the European market.

Electric cars per 1,000 inhabitants: Norway leads the way; US ahead of China

Europe is calculated to have 6.1 electric vehicles per thousand inhabitants – ahead of the US (5.2) and China (3.0). The global leader is Norway (81 per 1,000 inhabitants), followed by Iceland (36.8) and Sweden (20.6). Germany has 8.5 electric cars per 1,000 inhabitants. There are considerable differences between European regions: Northern and central Europe have a relatively high number of electric vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, while the figure for southern and eastern Europe remains low.

Achieving climate neutrality will require a large number of pure battery-electric vehicles driving locally emission-free. By 2020, thanks to high subsidies, pure electric vehicles accounted for 79% of new electrified vehicles registered in the US, an important market for e-mobility. China even reached a ratio of 80%. With a share of 54%, Europe is still below the global average of 68% for pure battery-electric vehicles – but plug-in hybrids are very popular here. They also play an important part in lowering emissions in cities, while guaranteeing a high range for longer trips. The overall growth in the market for electric vehicles shows that PHEVs serve as an entry-level product that attracts customers to e-mobility in the long term.

Source: Fourin, IHS, KBA, Ward’s

New registrations of electric cars in 2020: Germany sees significant growth, moves into second place behind China

In absolute numbers, China was number one worldwide with 1.25 million new electric vehicles registered in 2020 alone (2019: 1.09 million). Germany came second with 394,943 new vehicle registrations (2019: 108,839) – making it Europe’s leading market. With a total of 302,929 new vehicles registered over the past year (2019: 321,702), the US took third place. France is also among the European leaders, with 185,785 new vehicle registrations, compared to 61,434 the previous year; the UK also saw significant growth, with 177,022 new electric vehicles registered (2019: 72,993). If the European countries are viewed as a whole (EU27, EFTA & UK), this market would, in fact, occupy the leading position internationally, with 1.37 million new vehicle registrations in 2020 (2019: 562,049).

Europe posts strongest growth worldwide

In percentage terms, European markets reported significant growth in 2020. The number of new vehicle registrations in Germany increased by 263%, followed by Italy (247%) and Denmark (246%). France came next with 202%, while the UK posted growth of 143%. In China, the number of new vehicle registrations climbed 15% from the previous year.

The rate of growth in China is now much slower than in Europe, where the market has grown to almost five times the size it had in 2015, thanks to high subsidies. Growth in the US has now also slowed, as a result of support programmes coming to an end.

Source: Fourin, IHS, KBA, Ward’s

Market share of electric cars: Norway leads the World

Norway topped the global statistics for 2020, with electric vehicles accounting for 74.8% of total registrations, followed by Iceland (44.6%) and Sweden (32.1%). Compared to 2019, the percentage of electric vehicles sold in these three countries increased by more than percentage points (Norway +18.8; Iceland +25.8; Sweden +20.8).

These were followed by the Netherlands (24.7%, +9.6) and Finland (17.7%, +10.9). The bottom half of the top ten was occupied by Denmark (16.4%, +12.2), Switzerland (14.3%, +8.7), Germany (13.5%, +10.5), Portugal (13.5%, +7.9), and Luxembourg (11.4%, 8.1). Although the US ranks third internationally in terms of new vehicle registrations, it only appears towards the bottom of this table, at 2.1% (+0.2).

Source: Fourin, IHS, KBA, Ward’s

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