The Portuguese electric vehicle (EV) market achieved remarkable growth in January 2025, marking the best start to the year in the last six years for both new and imported used battery electric vehicles (BEVs). A total of 5,399 BEVs were registered, an increase of 40.97% compared to January 2024. The strong performance highlights Portugal's continued momentum in EV adoption and its growing commitment to sustainable mobility.
Key Market Highlights (January 2025)
- Total BEV registrations: 5,399 (+40.97% YoY)
- New BEVs: 3,733 (+28.5% YoY)
- Imported used BEVs: 1,666 (+80.1% YoY)
- Passenger BEVs (new): 4,878
- BEV market share (new passenger cars): 22.5% (new record)
- Decline in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle registrations: -15.13% YoY
This significant growth in BEV registrations was driven by a combination of factors, including an expanded selection of affordable EV models, increasing consumer confidence in electric mobility, and the continued expansion of Portugal’s charging infrastructure.
BEV Market Expansion Across All Vehicle Segments
While the majority of registrations were for light-duty passenger vehicles (4,878 units), other categories also saw notable growth:
- Light-duty commercial vehicles: 309
- Heavy-duty trucks: 12 (all from Ford)
- Motorcycles: 28
- Mopeds: 76
- Tricycles and quadricycles: 96
The diversification of electric mobility across multiple segments is a crucial development, particularly in freight transport and public transit, which play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions and advancing Portugal’s climate goals.
BEV Passenger Car Market: New Record Market Share
In January 2025, battery-electric light passenger vehicles captured a record-high market share of 22.5%, marking a major milestone in Portugal’s electrification efforts. This growth starkly contrasts with the declining sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which fell by -15.13% YoY.
The shift towards fully electric vehicles is indicative of Portugal’s growing commitment to sustainable transportation. The increasing adoption is further supported by the availability of more affordable BEV models, better infrastructure, and rising public awareness of the benefits of EV ownership.
Best-Selling BEV Brands in January 2025
Tesla continues to lead Portugal’s EV market, followed closely by BMW and BYD, which tied for second place. The top-selling BEV brands in Portugal for January 2025 were:
- Tesla
- BMW
- BYD (tied with BMW)
- Peugeot
- Mercedes-Benz
- Dacia
The strong presence of Chinese automaker BYD in the top three highlights the increasing competition in Portugal’s EV market. The growing selection of BEV models across different price segments is helping to make electric mobility more accessible to a wider range of consumers.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite the strong start to 2025, discussions around potential changes to Portugal’s Electric Mobility Model are creating uncertainty. The balance between regulation, infrastructure growth, and ensuring fair access to charging networks remains a key challenge.
The Portuguese Electric Vehicle Association (UVE) has emphasized the importance of maintaining network interoperability, ensuring that investment in charging infrastructure does not slow down, and protecting public access to the charging network.
Looking ahead, 2025 is expected to be a transformative year for electric mobility in Portugal, with the potential to further accelerate adoption if the right policies and incentives remain in place.
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
