2022 was a breakthrough year for electric mobility, although chip and raw material supply problems were a general problem for the entire automotive industry. Fewer cars are being sold, but electric car sales continue to rise.
Worldwide electric vehicle sales were up 68% over 2021, with 7.8 million units sold, according to data published by The Wall Street Journal, citing data from LMC Automotive and EV-Volumes. One out 10 cars sold globally in 2022 was electric, a new milestone for electric mobility. China is currently the largest market for electric vehicles with a 19% market share, followed by Europe with 11%.
EV sales in Europe
Sales of electrified vehicles (BEVs, PHEVs, EREVs, FCEVs) in Europe reached 2.59 million units, up 15% compared to 2021and 92% compared to 2020, according to data published by Jato.
Sales of pure electric vehicles are rising and already account for 60% of total electrified vehicle sales, while those of plug-in hybrid vehicles are declining.
According to Jato's data, which includes data from 28 countries in Europe, 1.56 million pure electric vehicles were sold in 2022, a new record. This means that 14 out of every 100 vehicles sold on the continent are electric.
The countries leading pure electric vehicle sales in Europe by market share are Norway (79%), Sweden (33%), the Netherlands (23%), Denmark (21%), followed by Finland, Switzerland and Germany with an 18% share, as we already told you in our analysis of EV registrations in Europe in 2022. The market share of electric vehicles in Spain, as we already told you, was 3.8% in 2022.
Volkswagen leads electric vehicle sales in Europe
By brand, Volkswagen is the brand selling the most electrified vehicles in Europe in 2022 with 349,147 units of pure electrics and 183,065 units of plug-in hybrids. As you can see, Volkswagen follows the general trend: sales of pure electrics are up (+15%) while sales of plug-in hybrids are down (-23%).
Tesla ranks second in pure electric sales with 232,108 units sold, being one of the fastest growing brands. The main reason is the sales of the Model Y, which was the best-selling electric car in Europe in 2022, thanks to the strong performance of the Berlin Gigafactory.
Stellantis is in third place, just 1,635 units behind Tesla. Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen are the brands selling the most EVs for this group, which could overtake Tesla in sales by 2023.
Another interesting fact among the brands selling the most pure EVs in Europe is the appearance of Chinese brands, such as Geely Group, and a long list that Jato groups under Chinese brands. These are the brands that are growing the most in percentage terms compared to 2021. As we have already mentioned, the Chinese market is currently the most developed in terms of sales and manufacturing of electric vehicles, and its expansion in Europe has just begun. In 2023 brands such as MG, BYD, NIO or Aiways will get a lot of awareness among car lovers and potential buyers.
Europe's best-selling electric cars in 2022
Tesla occupies the top two positions in the list of best-selling pure electrics in 2022. Sales of the Model Y are spectacular, with 137,052 units sold, making the Model 3 lose 35% of sales compared to 2021, although it still occupies the second position in sales.
In the top 10 we see 3 vehicles from the Volkswagen group: the Volkswagen ID.4, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Skoda Enyaq. The ID.4 has been very well received and has decreased sales of the ID.3 compared to 2021. In 15th place is the Cupra Born, which is also a sales success.
Stellantis has the FIAT 500e and the Peugeot 208 as its flagship EVs, with both exceeding 100,000 units sold by 2022.
The top 10 also includes the small Dacia Spring, which, with spectacular sales at the end of last year, is in 7th place with 48,535 units sold. Its urban character and attractive price have made it a success, which seems to be continuing as it is on the top best-selling EVs in some European countries this year.
Among the new EVs, launched in 2022, it has made its way into the top 50 best-sellers:
- Renault Megane (14th place with 32,641 units sold.
- BMW i4 (25th with 25,512 units sold)
- Volkswagen ID.5 (31st with 21,103 units sold)
- Volvo C40 (36th with 18,056 units sold)
- Mercedes EQB (40th with 16,427 units sold)
- Mercedes EQE (45th with 16,427 units sold)
- MG4 (46th with 7,420 units sold)
