Tesla Model 3 leads Europe EV sales as electric and hybrid cars overtake diesel

The Driven

Tesla, Volkswagen and Renault led a landmark moment in the auto industry in Europe in September, when more electrified vehicles were sold than diesel-fuelled cars.

More than 300,000 auto sales in September were electrified, accounting for 25% of sales for the first time ever as diesel sales fell to 24.8%, down from half of all sales in 2010. Almost half of those electric sales were for plug in electric cars.

The new figures released by European auto industry analytics JATO show that the path to recovery for the auto industry – after a 29 per cent drop worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic – will be driven by battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and non-pluggable hybrid vehicles (HEVs).

September sales saw a small  1.2% increase in car sales year-on-year in Europe, but more telling is the nosedive in diesel sales compared to a marked increase in electrified sales.

Tesla sold 15,702 Model 3 electric sedans, gaining first place in the electric segment, as well as beating 15,093 hybrid Corolla sales by Toyota.

Tesla has long been a driver of EV sales in Europe, but it now has local players to contend with as it works to complete its Berlin gigafactory and begin its planned onslaught of Model Y crossovers.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…