The remarkable increase in electric vehicle sales across Europe has prompted several countries to reconsider their advocacy for more lenient regulations pertaining to future sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commissioner for Climate, made this statement on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.
“Some have indeed stated, both member states and the European Parliament, ‘Isn’t this a sign that the current situation is already good enough?'” Hoekstra remarked ahead of a meeting in Luxembourg with the environment ministers from the EU. This comment referred to a previous target aimed at achieving a 100% reduction in CO₂ emissions from cars by 2035.
At the end of last year, the European Commission abandoned what would have been a de facto ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines starting in 2035, following pressure from the European automotive sector. The target was subsequently adjusted to a 90% reduction.
Countries with strong automotive industries, such as Germany and France, have particularly lobbied for the relaxation of these regulations.
Hoekstra expressed a preference for the new proposal but acknowledged that the increasing sales of electric vehicles are “very beneficial.” He noted, “The sales of electric vehicles, especially in the three largest markets and the used car market, are truly impressive, with increases in the tens of percentages compared to the previous year.”
Electric Vehicle Sales Growth in Europe
The total number of car registrations, which serves as an indicator for estimating sales, rose by 3.6% in May across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), reaching 1,152,523 vehicles. In the first five months of the year, registrations increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2025.
However, electric vehicles dominated the market dynamics. Registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrids surged by 39.1%, 13.2%, and 8.2%, respectively. Together, these categories accounted for more than two-thirds of all new vehicles registered in May.
The market continues to benefit from strong consumer demand for a wide range of electrified technologies in major European markets, supported by new tax incentives and revised subsidy schemes, according to a statement from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
In contrast, demand for traditional combustion engine vehicles has sharply declined, with sales of gasoline and diesel cars dropping by approximately 19% each.
Remarkable Electric Vehicle Sales Growth from China
Traditional European automotive manufacturers are losing ground amidst the transition to electrification, with registrations for Renault, Stellantis, and Volkswagen decreasing by between 1% and 3%, reflecting heightened competition.
In comparison, Chinese automakers have reported remarkable growth. Leapmotor’s sales surged by 465.1% in May, while Chery and BYD reported increases of 244.1% and 136.6%, respectively. Other Chinese manufacturers, Geely and SAIC Motor, recorded growths of 12.6% and 13.9%.
Tesla has continued its recovery in the European market for the fourth consecutive month, with registrations rising by 107.9% to 28,610 units, marking a significant rebound after more than a year of declines.
