Continued Acceleration in European BEV Adoption

The first half of 2025 marked a significant milestone for the European battery electric vehicle (BEV) market, with new registrations up 34% compared to the same period in 2024. This substantial increase underscores the region’s ongoing transition towards electrified mobility and highlights the success of supportive policies and investments in charging infrastructure.

BEV and PHEV Market Dynamics

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remain the primary driver of growth in the European alternative fuels market. BEV sales outpaced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) growth, reflecting both increased consumer confidence in fully electric mobility and the expanding range and variety of zero-emission models available.

PHEVs continued to represent a significant share of new registrations in certain markets, though their year-on-year growth rate was lower than that of BEVs, further emphasizing the market’s pivot toward fully electric solutions.

Registration Trends: BEV and PHEV

The European market recorded a steady increase in monthly registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) during the first half of 2025. As illustrated in the chart below, both segments saw a notable rise in absolute numbers, with BEVs consistently representing the majority of new alternative powertrain registrations:

Figure 1: Monthly BEV and PHEV M1 (car) registrations, January–June 2025.

Market Share by Alternative Fuel

Market share analysis confirms the ongoing dominance of BEVs within the alternative fuels segment. The chart below demonstrates the monthly evolution of market share for each major alternative fuel type (BEV, PHEV, hydrogen, LPG, CNG, LNG) for M1 (car) registrations in Europe:

Figure 2: Monthly M1 (car) market share per alternative fuel, January–June 2025. *June is preliminary data; 13 EU countries (Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) data are updated until June 2025; the rest until May 2025. Please check the monthly registrations graphs for the exact reference date, and FAQ for countries updated for the latest month of reference.

National Highlights

• Germany maintained its position as the largest single market for BEVs in Europe, buoyed by strong consumer incentives and a diverse offering of electric models.
• France registered solid growth, driven by increased public awareness and expanding charging infrastructure.
• Netherlands and Sweden continued to post above-average BEV market penetration rates, reflecting both consumer preferences and policy frameworks favoring zero-emission transport.
• Southern European markets, including Spain and Italy, also reported notable gains, narrowing the gap with Northern and Western European adoption rates.

Manufacturer Performance

Volkswagen Group consolidated its leadership as the leading manufacturer of BEVs in Europe, with several of its models ranking among the best-selling electric cars for the period. The company’s broad portfolio and pan-European presence have proven pivotal in driving mainstream BEV adoption.

Other major manufacturers, including Tesla, BMW, and Stellantis, also reported strong growth and increased market share, reflecting the rising competitiveness and maturity of the European electric vehicle landscape.

Infrastructure and Policy Context

The continued expansion of charging infrastructure, particularly in metropolitan and interurban corridors, has been instrumental in sustaining BEV growth. Many member states have accelerated investments in fast-charging networks, further reducing barriers to adoption.

Supportive regulatory frameworks, including vehicle emissions targets and direct purchase incentives, continue to play a crucial role in shaping the pace of the transition toward zero-emission vehicles across the continent.

Outlook

The strong performance of the European BEV market in the first half of 2025 underscores both the resilience of consumer demand and the impact of coordinated policy measures. With the sector on track for another record year, Europe remains a global leader in the shift towards alternative fuels and zero-emission road transport.

Source: EAFO analysis, CleanTechnica Author: José Pontes

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.