In April, car manufacturers’ sales figures in the European Union rose significantly. Gasoline and hybrid vehicles are particularly in demand. Things went particularly well in Spain, but also in Germany.
The European car market grew in April. Vehicle sales increased by 13.7 percent to 914,000 units, according to the European industry association ACEA. There was a setback in March.
Business was particularly good in Spain, where almost a quarter more cars were sold, and in Germany, where sales rose by a fifth. In France, sales increased by almost eleven percent, and in Italy by 7.7 percent.
The increase could be partly explained by the early Easter date, because April 2024 had two more working days than the same month last year, it was said. Since January, sales have totaled almost 3.7 million vehicles, 6.6 percent more than a year ago.
“Renaissance of the combustion engine”
In April, gasoline and hybrid vehicles dominated the number of new registrations. Overall, they make up almost two thirds of all new cars. Battery-powered vehicles accounted for around twelve percent. The Volkswagen Group (VW, Skoda, Audi, Seat, Cupra, Porsche) remained the market leader in the EU.
“What we are currently seeing is the opposite of the planned ramp-up of electromobility. This situation is worrying,” said mobility expert Constantin M. Gall from the management consultancy EY. Instead of constant sales growth, we are currently seeing a renaissance of the combustion engine. Gall therefore demanded planning security from politicians.