More than half (54%) of hybrid and electric cars sold globally in the third quarter (Q3) were bought by consumers in Europe, followed by those in China with 30% and the US with 16%, and the trend will continues until the end of the year, according to the report “E-Mobility Sales Q4” made by Strategy &, the strategy department of PwC.

About 711,000 electric and hybrid vehicles were sold in Europe in the third quarter, 128% more than in the same period in 2019. The highest sales were in hybrid vehicles segment, with 386,000 units (+97%), followed by the electric ones (BEV), of 179,000 units (+121%), and the plug-in hybrid ones (PHEV), of 146,000 units (+316%).

“Despite the general decline in the car market, caused by the pandemic, the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is stimulated by numerous local programs, but also by the launches of new models by premium brands. Also in Romania we see a greater interest in this category of vehicles. However, the increase in registrations remains modest, of 9% in the first nine months, according to APIA. The continuance of the Rabla Plus program and the launches announced on this segment, both by the local manufacturers, Dacia Renault (Spring) and Ford (Puma), and by other car manufacturers, will support the development of this segment at national level,” said Daniel Anghel, Partner and the Leader of the Automotive Industry within PwC Romania.

The top five EU markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) recorded the fastest growth, of 146%, since entering lockdown in the first quarter and to date, with up to 579,000 new registrations in the third quarter. Sales of plug-in hybrid cars increased by more than 400% in France and Germany, while sales of electric vehicles doubled in all five countries. The total market share of electric vehicles for these markets is of 19%.