Britain overtook Germany to become Europe’s largest electric vehicle market, with 381,970 battery electric cars sold in 2024 – up 21% from 2023.
Government rules and car maker price cuts drove this growth. The zero emission vehicle mandate requires 22% of new car sales to be electric. Car makers face £15,000 fines per non-compliant vehicle, pushing them to slash prices.
Electric cars now make up nearly 20% of all new UK car sales. The British government aims to end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said this deadline would help buyers feel confident about switching to electric.
German Market Slows Despite Green Push
Though Germany generated 59% of its power from renewable sources in 2024, its electric car market struggled. Sales dropped 27% last year as subsidies ended and the economy slowed. The share of electric cars fell to 13% of new sales.
Car makers still face pressure from EU rules that threaten fines for missing emissions targets. The German government wants one in three new cars to be electric by 2030, but reaching this goal looks harder without subsidies.
France Slips from Early Lead
France once led Europe in electric car adoption but has lost ground. Changes to policies and fewer subsidies slowed sales growth. Electric cars now account for roughly 17% of new French car sales, down from previous years.
Norway and Sweden Charge Up
Norway’s electric vehicle transition gears up, with nine in ten new cars sold in 2024 being fully electric. Strong government support, including VAT waivers and reduced toll charges, helped lift EV adoption from 82% in 2023. A network of 9,000 rapid-chargers keeps drivers moving. Parliament aims for all-electric new car sales by 2025.
Next door, Sweden’s electric car market tells a different story. Pure electric vehicles made up 35% of new cars in 2024. Yet overall car purchases fell, while the end of buying incentives cooled interest. Combined sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars reached 58%.
Middle Eastern Test Drive
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are building charging networks as they plan beyond oil. The UAE sold 35,000 electric cars in 2023, while Saudi Arabia managed just 1,500.
Both countries want more electric cars on their roads. The UAE aims for 50% of new car sales to be electric by 2050. Saudi Arabia targets 30% by 2030. Yet electric cars remain rare on Middle Eastern roads, making up less than 1% of total cars.
China Driving Global Sales
China sells more electric cars than all European countries combined. As petrol car sales fall there, electric sales keep climbing. Chinese buyers chose electric for over 30% of new car purchases last year.
This success comes from a mix of government support, lower prices, and wide model choice. Chinese car makers now export their electric vehicles worldwide, pushing European brands to compete on price and features.
The Road Ahead
Britain’s rise to European leadership in electric cars shows how government rules can shape markets. Yet Germany’s stumble proves that removing subsidies too quickly can slow adoption.
The next few years will test whether Britain can hold its European lead, if Germany and France can revive their markets, as the Middle East takes small steps while China races ahead.
