Are European automakers’ 100% electric vehicle sales really negligible?

We know that our dear European manufacturers are not currently competing with Tesla and Chinese manufacturers, but is that serious?

European manufacturers have their work cut out for them against the giants of electric cars, especially Tesla and Chinese brands like BYD. These new players have taken a significant lead, whether in terms of technology, cost control, or ability to innovate quickly. Europe has chosen strict regulations which, although aimed at a greener transition, end up penalizing its own manufacturers who really don’t need that!

Moreover, European automakers and subcontractors have to reinvent factories and processes designed over the past century for thermal engines, which is no easy task and slows down progress. At the same time, the price war for batteries, dominated by Asian producers, further complicates the competitiveness of European brands. And even if Europeans are attracted to electric vehicles, price remains a key factor, which affects profit margins. In short, a real headache for traditional manufacturers.

A Glimmer of Hope on the Horizon for Europeans

Nevertheless, the sales figures for 2024 announced at the start of the year are far from insignificant. Audi reports 164,000 fully electric vehicles sold, totaling 1.7 million. For BMW Group, electric sales are up 13.5% with 368,523 units sold for BMW and 56,181 for MINI. Surprisingly, Rolls-Royce sold 1,890 Spectre fully electric models, a growth of 479.6% compared to 2023. Sure, when you’re starting from zero, growth is faster, but the most sold Rolls in Europe is now an electric car!

On the French side, Renault performs quite well with a 37.5% increase in its volumes. The diamond-brand continues its electrification and also leads sales of 100% electric vehicles with 55,309 registrations in 2024, holding a 17.4% market share, up by 5.2 points.

And the Volkswagen Group? Although the German giant is in turmoil, all Group brands are increasing electric vehicle sales, with a +2.3 point market share gain versus 2023, a 25.4% volume increase. In this particular case, VW can thank Skoda, which has transitioned to electric vehicles much more effectively than its parent company.

Of course, the numbers can be interpreted differently, and no manufacturer will boast of making 10% of its sales fully electric when Tesla has proven that it’s possible to shatter all records without burning a single drop of fossil energy. Europe’s underlying issue seems to stem from Europe itself, which is incapable of defining a real strategy for developing electric cars. With friends like the European Commission, the old continent’s automakers don’t need enemies. But all is not lost, and the best is yet to come with new models such as the BMW Neue Klasse, the Alpine A390, the Mercedes autonomous,… We always bounce back stronger!

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