Fuel Type: electric-vehicle-bev

Is Europe’s EV decline impacting market forecasts?

EV Volumes

With Europe’s light vehicle market slowing, how have electric vehicle (EV) forecasts been affected? Neil King, head of forecasting at EV Volumes, presents the latest outlook with Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry.

Europe’s light-vehicle market, made up of passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs), has experienced a rollercoaster ride this year. Major markets across the continent enjoyed relatively consistent growth following the end of the supply-chain crisis in August 2022.

However, this year has seen instability, with strong overall increases offset by large declines. With high interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis, the automotive market is in a state of flux.

EV Volumes has reduced its forecast for Europe’s light-vehicle market in 2024. It now expects growth of 2.4% across the continent by the end of the year, down from the 2.6% forecast in June 2024.

At almost 15.1 million units, this falls far short of the 18 million light vehicles registered in Europe in 2019. Moreover, EV Volumes does not see the European market returning to this level during the current forecast horizon, up to 2035.

Difficult forecasts for EVs

Europe’s EV market, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), has seen a significant slowdown. The electric light-vehicle market saw deliveries in Europe increase by 17.4% in 2023, with 3.15 million new units taking to roads across the continent.

However, some major markets changed their incentive schemes in the past 12 months. Germany ended all subsidies by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, France reduced the number of eligible models based on new carbon footprint figures. Even EV-friendly Norway has ended its VAT exemption for EVs.

Although Italy introduced an incentive scheme in May 2024, the funds dedicated to BEVs were totally depleted within a day. This caused a spike in passenger-car BEV registrations during June, with figures having returned to normal since July.

On a positive note, countries such as Spain and Poland are considering the revision of EV purchase subsidies. More affordable BEVs such as the Citroen e-C3 are rolling out too. Additionally, global EV-leader BYD has expansion plans for the region, as do other Chinese OEMs.

Provisional tariffs impact

This expansion is despite the EU imposing provisional import duties on BEVs manufactured in China.

Imposed on 5 July, the tariffs remain provisional and are subject to change. Discussions with the Chinese authorities are ongoing, hoping to ‘explore possible ways to resolve the issues identified in a WTO-compatible manner.’

Furthermore, OEMs have only had to provide bank guarantees at this stage. No additional duties are to be collected until a final agreement becomes definitive in November.

So far, only Tesla has announced a modest price increase of about €1,500 for the China-sourced Tesla Model 3. Meanwhile, both Nio and Xpeng stated they will not change prices in the EU. BYD is expected to absorb the tariffs without increasing prices.

MG-parent SAIC stated that it has sufficient stock to supply the market until the tariffs become definitive in November. Finally, falling lithium prices are also allowing OEMs to put off price increases of China-built BEVs.

EV Volumes assumes that prices will largely be unchanged until the tariffs become definitive in November, and these could yet be applied at a lower rate too. The impact on the 2024 BEV sales forecast for Europe is therefore negligible. However, it has considered price changes and demand elasticities, adjusting the forecast accordingly for 2025 and beyond.

EV declines ahead

Considering these market trends and tariffs, EV Volumes forecasts that European EV sales will fall 2.5% year on year in 2024. This equates to 3.07 million unit deliveries.

This equates to only 20.4% of all light-vehicle sales. This is lower than the 21.4% share achieved in 2023, and even the 20.7% gained in 2022.

There is a high risk that the EV share does not even exceed 20% this year. Volumes of BEVs are forecast to decline 3.5% year on year, with the technology accounting for 67.8% of all EV deliveries.

However, EV Volumes only forecasts a modest 0.2% decline in PHEV sales. This is because they offer a stepping stone to full electrification. Additionally, incentive changes mean BEVs have lost their price advantage in major markets like Germany.

Volumes to drop in forecasts

In terms of electric volume and share expectations, EV Volumes has lowered its forecasts for this year. This is partly because of a reduced outlook for total European light-vehicle sales. However, it also reflects weaker EV adoption in multiple countries and the lacklustre recovery of Germany’s BEV market.

Electric vehicles are also forecast to see slightly lower market shares in the years ahead. This follows the reduction or complete withdrawal of incentives as governments contend with high debt levels. Alongside this, more countries are pushing back on the EU zero-emission mandate for 2035.

Compared to the previous forecast, the European market share of BEVs and PHEVs is now expected to reach 24.2% in 2025 (was 25.9%), 61.1% in 2030 (was 62.3%) and 93.4% in 2035 (was 94.1%).

The forecast for 2035 includes some tolerance for timing interpretations of the zero-emission vehicle mandate. It also allows for exemptions for internal-combustion engine vehicles that may be deemed unsuitable for full electrification.

However, EV Volumes foresees a return to registrations growth next year, with EVs predicted to gain a 24.2% share. This is thanks to the rollout of new EVs and the implementation of more ambitious CO2 emission targets for new cars and vans in the EU, set at 93.6g/km for 2025-2029.

Tough times for electric LCVs

LCVs still lag far behind in electrifying, but a 49% growth in electric deliveries last year is encouraging, especially compared to the 16% growth for passenger cars.

High prices for EVs in this market, compared to diesel models, are still inhibiting. However, key new products such as the Ford Transit, Renault Trafic, and VW Transporter BEVs will help the market. So too will upgraded versions of the small, medium, and large electric vans offered by Stellantis brands Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel/Vauxhall.

EV Volumes now forecasts that the EV share of the LCV market will decrease from 7.5% in 2023 to 6.6% in 2024. This will be followed by an increase to 9.8% in 2025, and 51.6% in 2030. Long term, the 2035 ZEV mandate will further accelerate the transition to pure-electric LCVs.

The forecast assumes that all Western and Central European markets will follow the directive, allowing for some exemptions and grace periods. Therefore, the ZEV share is unlikely to reach 100% in 2035, but EV Volumes forecasts a 92.6% share, compared to 93.5% for passenger cars.

Go to Autovista24 for related articles.

Which EV manufacturers performed the best in 2024 so far?

EV Volumes

Which electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers stood out in the first half of 2024? EV Volumes founder, Roland Irle, reviews the most successful OEMs in the electric light-vehicle market with Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus.

Covering both passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs), the global light-vehicle market saw mixed performances from EV manufacturers in the first half of 2024. One of the most noticeable trends was that OEM success followed regional growth patterns.

Many Chinese vehicle makers recorded impressive growth between January and June. Compared to the restrained results of most Western OEMs, the likes of Geely, Changan, Li Auto, Seres (Aito) and Chery did particularly well.

BYD’s year-on-year volume growth slowed to 26%, compared to the 62% surge it recorded last year. Despite this, the manufacturer remained the global EV-market leader.

Its product portfolio featured 37 nameplates for sale in the first half of 2024. This included battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). However, BYD is not yet present across all vehicle segments and it does not offer mini-EVs. It is also late to the EREV party.

Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.
Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

BYD is also China’s largest OEM by production and sales volumes, despite only offering BEV and PHEV models. It sold roughly 161,000 vehicles outside China, and only some 17,000 in Western and Central Europe. South America, ASEAN, the Middle East and Russia were BYD’s largest export regions, with combined sales of roughly 114,000 units.

Tesla manages to hold on

Tesla was still the leading OEM in terms of global BEV sales between January and June 2024, but only by a small margin. Its deliveries declined by 7% year on year, which is the first time this has happened in this time period. Tesla’s volumes in China, Western Europe, North America, as well as Australia and New Zealand all declined compared to the first half of 2023.

The BEV builder is facing fierce pricing competition in China, while its refreshed Model 3 suffers rollout delays. The base model of the electric sedan was also not eligible for grants under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as its batteries were built in China. Going forward, the batteries for this variant will be US-sourced.

Monthly volume levels of Tesla models are often erratic, indicating changes in logistics and re-routing of supply, in order to retain grants and avoid tariffs.

Likewise, Volkswagen (VW) Group felt its grip on the global EV market slacken between January and June. It was only able to record 6% year-on-year sales growth, while the global EV market was up 22%.

Audi and Cupra were responsible for the OEM’s growth, while its other brands recorded declines. However, the opposite was true in China, where the VW brand continues to participate in the ongoing price war but Audi and Porsche do not. The Cupra brand is not sold in China.

Geely’s EV gains

Geely was a big winner in the first half of this year, tripling its global EV sector share. Its Chinese brands saw sales increase by 68% year on year.

Its European affiliate Volvo has also grown faster than the stagnating European EV market, where the Swedish brand sells most of its EVs. The new Volvo EX30 BEV was an instant hit with some 45,000 units sold in the first half. Approximately 39,000 of them were sold in Europe alone.

Geely, including Volvo, Polestar and Smart (formerly owned by Mercedes-Benz) exported roughly 118,000 units from China in the first half of 2024. Some 98,000 of these units were sold in Europe.

Of these European sales, roughly 93,000 were China-made models from Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Lotus. Import tariffs on China’s EV exports to Europe will limit this potential for growth. This is unless they are exempted from tariff increases or production is relocated to the region.

Jumping 32% in the first half of 2024, GM’s sales grew more quickly than at the same point last year. Several of its new models on the new Ultium battery platform are gaining traction in the US.

In China, the Buick Velite 6 BEV (not built on the Ultium platform) recorded roughly 33,000 sales. This is a new record for Buick in the region, beating all other previous model performances. However, the overall result for GM was dragged down by the phase-out of the Chevy Bolt, including the EUV derivative.

Most of the manufacturer’s recent growth can be attributed to its Chinese affiliate, Wuling. Co-owned by SAIC, the brand has been expanding and upgrading its portfolio. Dwindling sales of the Honguang Mini-EV were offset by the larger Wuling Bingo and the Starlight PHEV. This large sedan comes with a starting price as low as ¥89,000 ($12,400).

Stagnating market affect

Stellantis saw its EV deliveries decline by 9% thanks to its high exposure to Europe’s stagnating EV market. Subsidy cuts have affected sales of lower-priced EVs, an important sector for Stellantis. The OEM’s deliveries in Europe fell by 20%, while sales of Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler models in the US and Canada rose by 35%.

BMW Group sold 13% more EVs in the first half of this year. Mini recorded heavy year-on-year losses of 46%, while the BMW brand saw solid gains of 20%, with particular success in Europe. The German marque sold the second-largest number of EVs in Europe in the first half.

In the last two years, Changan has successfully launched three new brands, Avatr, Deepal and Qiyuan, also known as Nevo. The OEM has a total of 12 models positioned from the entry-premium level upwards, including EREV powertrains.

This effort has paid off. Changan’s sales increased by 87% in the first half, exceeding the 60% growth recorded at the same point last year. The company has plans to enter the Europe market.

Flat sales for Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Motor Company saw its sales stay flat in the first half. However, Kia was able to make slight gains over Hyundai. Launched in the summer of 2023, the Kia EV9 recorded some 19,000 sales in the first six months of 2024.

Otherwise, model volume changes were small. The only exceptions were the Kia Bongo and Hyundai Porter, which saw the end of generous electric LCV grants in South Korea. This resulted in a loss of some 17,500 sales. Dropping deliveries in Europe and South Korea were balanced by good growth in the US. In China, the OEM sold only around 3,000 units of the Kia EV5.

Li Auto, known for its large range-extender-equipped SUVs, saw continued sales growth in the first half. Following the launch of the L6 and increasing sales in Russia, the manufacturer managed to record 14,400 unit sales.

Ageing model lineup

GAC Aion’s brands lost momentum due to an ageing model lineup. Mercedes-Benz’s growth was hampered by volume losses in China and the phase-out of proprietary Smart models.

Compared to a weak first half of 2023, Seres saw sales grow by 515% between January and June 2024. Aito’s two new large SUVs featuring EREV technology, the M7 and M9, generated most of this growth. Aito seems set to follow in the footsteps of Li Auto.

Toyota, the world’s largest vehicle OEM, sold roughly 161,000 EV units in the first half. However, this only made up approximately 3% of its total sales. However, the vehicle manufacturer did record healthy year-on-year growth.

While SAIC recorded growth, this fell below expectations. It exported 58% of its volume, roughly 89,000 units. Approximately 56,000 of these models were sold in Europe, 3,000 units behind the first half of 2023.

Chery saw its sales increase with new, more premium entries. However, the OEM’s large export ambitions have not materialised, at least not for its EVs.

Incentives impact

The Renault-Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance experienced difficulties in the first half. The OEM group recorded weak EV sales in Japan. This followed a phase-out of the all-electric Renault Zoe before the Renault 5 and Renault 4 models could be handed the baton.

Purchase incentives are now no longer available for the Dacia Spring in France as it is built in China. This resulted in a drop of roughly 12,000 units, or 80% of its sales in the country.

Dongfeng recorded some 127,400 EV sales across its nine brands, resulting in healthy growth in the first half. The state-owned OEM is a leading manufacturer of internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars and trucks, although, its EV branch appears dysfunctional.

Only 4% of Ford’s total global sales in the first half came from EVs. Meanwhile, Nio, Leapmotor and XPeng all recorded healthy growth as well. However, sales volumes were still far from the 400,000-a-year viability threshold.

Leading EV deliveries

Models from Tesla and BYD led the global EV market in the first half of 2024. The Tesla Model Y was the world’s best-selling vehicle across all categories, including ICE vehicles. However, its figures were down between January and June, particularly in Europe.

One reason for this was increased competition in the BEV market. This includes the Volvo EX30, the BMW iX1 and iX2, as well as the Hyundai Kona. Even though these models are smaller than the Model Y, they offer an attractive alternative for buyers not concerned about size. If Tesla offered a model in the C-SUV space, this could help the OEM maintain market share.

With the Model Y now five years into its life cycle, a refreshed version, codename Juniper, is around the corner. It will likely produce the same improvements as the Model 3’s refresh. Many will wait to buy a new Model Y or go for a Model 3 in the meantime.

Production of the Model Y in Berlin suffered three unplanned shutdowns in the first half of 2024. This was due to acts of sabotage at the Berlin factory as well as shipping issues in the Red Sea.

The network of high-power fast chargers is improving. Additionally, Tesla grants access to their Superchargers for many other brands now. One of Tesla’s unique strengths is wearing thinner now.doption in mature markets.

Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.
Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

Refreshed results for BYD Song

The BYD Song PHEV was not only the second-best-selling vehicle in China but was also the second-best-selling EV worldwide. The midsized SUV features BYD’s DM-i PHEV technology and starts from ¥136,000. Thanks to its recent refresh, sales increased again in the first half of 2024.

Deliveries of the Tesla Model 3 fell by 12% in the first half. Supply of the enhanced BEV was constrained in the US in the first quarter. Additionally, the base variant did not qualify for IRA grants due to its China-sourced battery.

Sales of the all-electric sedan grew by 41% in Europe but dropped by 22% in China and 36 % in the US. Model 3s sold in Europe are made in China. This indicates that Tesla prioritised European deliveries ahead of the implementation of new import tariffs. To manoeuvre around these new duties, Tesla will need to re-locate volume production for Europe to Berlin.

The BYD Seagull BEV, known as the Dolphin Mini in export markets, is the OEM’s smallest and most affordable model. Starting at ¥70,000, the Seagull undercuts the BYD Dolphin by ¥30,000 and cannibalises sales from its larger sibling.

In fifth, the BYD Yuan Plus BEV, known as the Atto 3 in export markets, saw sales decline by 20%. The Yuan Plus continues to lead the compact SUV segment in China. The model could take this title for the third year running, but it does now face fresh competition. The entire segment is also stagnating as buyers upgrade to larger SUVs which offer more innovations and EREV variants.

BYD’s warship lineup

The BYD Qin Plus DM-I was one of the best-selling models in China, leading the midsize-sedan segment in the first half. It was joined by its sibling from BYD’s warship line-up, the Destroyer 05 PHEV. Both models share the same architecture, powertrain and batteries.

The Qin Plus starts at ¥110,000 in China, while the Destroyer is available from ¥120,000. The model’s main export market is Russia, having delivered 2,500 units in the country in the first half.

Designed in cooperation with Huawei, the Aito Wenjie M7 is a large SUV from the Seres Group. Aito’s model lineup is similar to Li Auto’s, with a focus on large SUVs powered by EREV technology.

The BYD Dolphin finished eighth in the first half of 2024, losing sales to its Seagull sibling. Approximately 30% of Dolphin production is exported, mostly to South America and ASEAN countries. Sales in Europe reached 4,100 units between January and June this year.

The Hongguang Mini EV continues declining from its peak of over 420,000 sales in 2021 and 2022. New competition from the likes of the Changan Lumin and the Geely Panda took its toll. Buyers are also upgrading from mini cars to small cars, such as the BYD Seagull and the Wuling Bingo.

But which models and manufacturers will take home the EV-sales crown at the end of 2024? Keep up to date with the latest data-driven insights from EV Volumes on Autovista24. In the meantime, find out whether the global EV market really did slow down in the first half of 2024.

Go to Autovista24 for related articles.

Is the global EV market slowing down?

EV Volumes

New electric vehicle (EV) sales across the world continued to grow across the first half of 2024. But did the market show signs of slowing? EV Volumes founder, Roland Irle, explores the progress of plug-ins with Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus.

The global new light-vehicle market, including passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles, grew by 3.7% in the first half of 2024. Within this, combined battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales increased by 22% year on year to 1.35 million units.

As confirmed by EV Volumes data, deliveries of new EVs did grow relatively consistently between January and June 2024. Because of the Chinese New Year, February was the only month not to record double-digit growth in the first half.

Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

This consistency and competitively high level of growth appears promising at first. However, it does represent a slowdown from the same point last year. In the first half of 2023, the global EV market saw deliveries climb by 35% year on year.

Uneven EV growth

Growth has also become more uneven across the world. Despite accumulating economic woes, China continues to drive the global EV market in terms of volume. The country made up 60% of global electric vehicle sales in the first half of the year. Combined, BEVs and PHEVs represented 46% of the Chinese new-car market in June.

New plug-in volumes also outpaced the wider light vehicle market in China. EVs surged 31% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, while overall sales increased by 2%.

Over-capacity is a common challenge in the country, which means prices are coming down. Growth is particularly strong for both premium segments and extended-range electric vehicles (EREV). This powertrain uses a small internal-combustion engine generator to charge the battery instead of driving the wheels. Like BEVs and PHEVs, EREVs can be charged via the mains.

global EV market
Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

Sales stagnation in Europe

Europe is continuing to see EV deliveries stagnate following the exceptional growth of 2020 and 2021. While the overall new light-vehicle market continues to recover, growing by 5.2% in the first half, EV sales only increased by 1%. This follows many European countries reducing or removing purchase subsidies, first for PHEVs and then for BEVs.

In the US, the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are wearing off, following a steep growth in EV sales in recent years. On top of this, there are also uncertainties and challenges surrounding the eligibility of different vehicles for grants. The first half of 2024 was characterised by delays of not only vehicles but also batteries, with OEMs having to re-route supply chains to comply with IRA requirements.

EV deliveries in the region jumped by 12% in the first six months of the year, ahead of a 3.2% improvement for overall light-vehicle deliveries.

Elsewhere around the world, some EV markets recorded triple-digit growth, albeit from low bases. The most significant markets in terms of volumes and growth were Brazil, India, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan and Malaysia. However, two of the largest markets in this group, Japan and South Korea, appear to be going into reverse.

Are EV sales really slowing?

So, is the global EV market crashing? Not quite. While growth is slowing, this follows the rapid plug-in increases in both volume and share in 2021 and 2022. But global EV sales are still increasing, up by 22% in the first half of 2024, outperforming the total market growth of 3.7% by a wide margin.

In Europe, EV sales are stagnating, however, following the exceptional growth of 2020 and 2021. Looking back, there is the 2020 95gCO2/km New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) mandate and green recovery support measures to consider.

Introduced during the pandemic, this created an unprecedented EV boom during 2020 and 2021. Volume increases by 136% and 68% year on year respectively. This means CO2 emission targets were easily reached.

Europe’s EV demand outstripped supply, as prices were pushed up and discounts disappeared, creating generous margins for some models. However, the pandemic and its associated costs stressed public budgets. This pushed funds for green projects towards EV charging infrastructure, which remains insufficient.

Grant effect

From 2022 onwards, EV grants in Europe were gradually reduced, first for PHEVs, and then for BEVs. More expensive EVs also saw greater restrictions around subsidies.

By 2024, at least six countries phased out direct purchase incentives. This includes high-volume markets such as Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Italy and Switzerland. However, annual road tax exemptions have remained intact in many locations.

As order backlogs cleared, supply caught up with slower demand. This has hailed a turning point, as a buyers’ market returned. This put margins under considerable pressure, with many EV models starting to lose money.

Having comfortably met the European CO2 mandates between 2020 and 2024, there is currently little incentive for carmakers to push for more EV deliveries. However, this will change in 2025 when fleet emissions will need to be 15% lower than in 2021. Therefore, efforts are better saved for this upcoming challenge.

What comes next?

EV Volumes expects new EV sales to reach a total of 16.5 million units this year worldwide. This would equate to an increase of 16% compared to 2023. Broken down by region, China is forecast to account for 10 million units, Europe 3.3 million units, North America 2 million units, with the rest of the world making up 1.4 million units.

Source: EV Volumes. Note: Light vehicles include passenger cars and LCVs. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs. 2024 figures are forecast.

Nearly one in five light vehicle deliveries will be an EV this year. However, PHEVs are gaining more ground globally than BEVs. This is mainly thanks to the growing popularity of EREVs in China, which EV Volumes categorise with PHEVs. While EREVs are less technically complicated than PHEVs, their fuel-saving potential is greater.

The downside of this powertrain is that a larger battery is required than in a standard PHEV. For the driver, there is also a disconnect between the sounds of the engine and the motion of the vehicle.

The first modern EREVs were the Chevy Volt and the BMW i3 Rex, which were both discontinued. Today, EREVs hail from China, with Li Auto kick-starting the recent renaissance.

EREVs cover the typical PHEV domains of midsize and large cars, as well as SUVs. In China, the powertrain now accounts for 18% of all EV sales in these segments, and a third of all PHEVs. BEVs represent 45% of sales in these segments while PHEVs make up 55%.

Go to Autovista24 for related articles.

How is Europe’s EV slowdown affecting its market forecast?

EV Volumes

Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) market has slowed in the first half of 2024. But how will it affect the market this year and beyond? Neil King, head of forecasting at EV Volumes, presents the latest forecast with Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry.

Europe’s new light-vehicle market, made up of passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs) is undergoing a difficult year in 2024, following its bounce back from various challenges last year.

The passenger-car market has seen slow growth, with declines in March and May, while the LCV market is currently performing well, but offers smaller volumes into the new light-vehicle sector.

The latest figures are compared to a period, however, where volumes increased rapidly, following the impact of a supply-chain crisis in 2021 and 2022. This was exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet, the market this year is more subdued, due to high interest rates and the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

With this in mind, EV Volumes has revised its forecasts from March 2024. The European new light-vehicle market is now expected to grow by 2.6% this year, a lower figure than the 3.1% improvement forecast earlier this year.

The 15.1 million units this equates to is far short of the 18 million vehicles registered in Europe during 2019. EV Volumes does not see the European market returning to this level during the current forecast horizon, which runs to 2035.

EV market fluctuates

In 2023, European new EV deliveries, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) increased by 17.4% year on year. A total of 3.15 million units were registered, gaining a 21.4% market share, up from the 20.7% share seen in 2022.

This is despite many countries, including Germany, France and Ireland, reducing incentives for EVs during the year, especially for PHEVs. Even Norway, a leading market in plug-in  adoption, ended its VAT exemption in the year.

Germany abruptly ended incentives for BEVs in December, Ireland reduced purchase subsidies in July, and France has further reduced their incentives, removing them completely for company-car buyers and vehicles imported into Europe. Also, in January of this year, Switzerland completely removed the 4% import tax exemption for BEVs.

In addition, most legacy OEMs can stay safely below their CO2 limits without selling more EVs. This means they can turn their attention back to more profitable internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

However, there have been positive steps in the EV market this year. Italy has introduced a new incentive scheme, while countries such as Spain and Poland are considering the revision of plug-in purchase subsidies.

There are also more affordable BEVs rolling out, such as the Citroen e-C3. Meanwhile, global EV leader BYD has expansion plans for the region, as do other Chinese OEMs.

Slowdown continues

EV Volumes has lowered its forecast for EVs in Europe’s new light-vehicle market this year. The sector is expected to grow by 4.9% compared to 2023, despite the anticipated lacklustre growth of the wider light-vehicle market. The technology is predicted to account for around 22% of all new light-vehicle sales.

Volumes of BEVs are forecast to grow 5.4% and take a 68.9% share of the EV market. However, EV Volumes forecasts 3.7% growth for PHEVs, as they offer a stepping stone to full electrification. In addition, incentive changes mean BEVs have lost their price advantage in markets such as Germany, for example.

This forecast does not factor in the import duties that the European Commission is proposing to apply on BEVs imported from China. Talks between both governments are continuing, with Chinese authorities looking to avoid tariffs of up to 38.1% being applied to vehicles imported into Europe. Should talks fail, these will apply provisionally from 4 July, with final tariffs confirmed in November of this year.

Compared to the previous forecast, EV Volumes has slightly lowered its 2024 volume and share expectations for EVs in Europe. This is partially because of the lower overall market outlook, but is mainly due to the sluggish growth across multiple markets and the lacklustre recovery of BEV demand in Germany in particular.

The European market share of EVs is now forecast to reach 25.9% in 2025, down from the previous forecast of 29.4%. In 2030, this will grow to 62.2% (originally 67.3%) and will reach 94.1% in 2035, a slight reduction from the previous 94.5% figure.

The forecast for 2035 includes some tolerance for timing interpretations of the continent’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. It also allows for exemptions for ICE vehicles that may be deemed unsuitable for full electrification.

LCV Growth

New LCVs still lag far behind in EV uptake. Yet their 49% growth in 2023 is encouraging, especially compared to the 16% growth for passenger cars.

High prices compared to diesel LCVs are still a barrier to adoption. However, key new products such as the Ford Transit, Renault Trafic, and VW Transporter BEVs, will bolster demand. Upgraded versions of the small, medium, and large electric vans offered by Stellantis brands will also improve volumes.

EV Volumes now forecast that the EV share of LCVs will climb from 7.5% in 2023, which itself was up from 5.8% in 2022, to an 8.6% hold of the market in 2024. This will increase to an 11.8% share in 2025, with the technology taking 53.4% in 2030.

Long term, the ZEV mandate for 2035 will further accelerate the transition to pure-electric LCVs. The forecast assumes that all Western and Central European markets will follow the directive, allowing for some exemptions and grace periods. Therefore, the ZEV share does not reach 100% in 2035, but EV Volumes forecast a 93.3% share, compared to 94.2% for passenger cars.

The role of e-fuels and other CO2-neutral ICE fuels is still uncertain but will likely be limited to niche concepts, also depending on national tax regimes. EV Volumes also expect the deployment of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) to be limited in light commercial vehicles, with their share peaking at just 0.02%.

Go to Autovista24 for related articles.

How to recharge Europe’s battery-electric vehicle market

What condition is Europe’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market in, can adoption be accelerated and could Chinese brands recharge uptake? Autovista Group experts consider these questions in a new webinar with Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus.

Concerns and questions are currently swirling around Europe’s BEV market. Is this what the adoption of a new technology should look like? What part must infrastructure play in supporting consumer confidence? Do new brands from Asia present an opportunity or a threat?

Autovista Group experts set out to answer these questions in a new webinar: How to recharge Europe’s battery-electric vehicle market. Panellists included Dr Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist at Autovista Group, Christoph Ruhland, director of business development at Autovista Group and Christian Schneider, director of content at EV Volumes.

Taking stock of the markets

Schneider explained that different European new-car markets are witnessing BEV adoption at varying rates. For example, Norway has long led the charge on BEVs, with all-electric vehicles making up the vast majority of registrations in the first quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, other major markets such as Spain and Italy are still struggling to drive registrations. In the first three months of 2024, these countries remained in the early-adopter phase, with BEVs making up a relatively small percentage of deliveries.

Transitioning BEVs towards the mass market will require continued effort from major industry players, Schneider explained. This includes the likes of governments, OEMs and utility companies. In countries where governmental support for BEVs has been withdrawn, the powertrain’s market share has been noticeably affected.

Meanwhile, the situation on the used market is even more severe. There are little to no incentives for used-car buyers to switch from internal-combustion engine models to BEVs. Sales of new models have been driven by attractive conditions for fleets and company car buyers. However, there is less on offer to attract private used-car buyers, which presents an issue for the models being de-fleeted.

Autovista Group’s Residual Value Intelligence tool confirms the continual pressure being experienced by all powertrains. However, this pressure is being felt far more acutely by BEVs and PHEVs as supply increases but demand fails to keep pace.

How to accelerate market adoption

Engelskirchen pointed out that battery health certificates could help drive used-BEV adoption. By certifying the condition of a used battery, consumer confidence can be bolstered while sellers see greater remarketing results. This will also ensure better BEV treatment as current owners modify their driving style and charging behaviours to ensure better test results.

Another way of supporting BEV uptake across the new and used-car markets is ensuring the development of public charging infrastructure. While the number of charging points has been growing in recent years, this figure has slowed more recently, Schneider commented.

The spread of charging infrastructure has not been even either, with different countries seeing varying levels of development. The number of BEVs per charging station recorded in 2023 was high in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but far lower in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Will China recharge Europe’s BEV market?

Brands from China could help recharge Europe’s BEV market. These companies have made substantial investments in the research and development of electric-vehicle technology. This includes battery systems, charging capabilities and autonomous driving features, Ruhland outlined.

Alongside this, these carmakers can offer BEVs at a comparatively competitive price point. This could generate more momentum behind the mass-market uptake of all-electric cars, as well as stimulating greater competitiveness.

Chinese brands have employed a range of strategies to enter the European market. This includes acquiring known brands and utilising their reputation and customer loyalty. Building production sites in Europe is another method, which allows these carmakers to tailor their products to local tastes. Setting up European sales operations is the most common approach, however. With a European sales headquarters, brands can be built up locally with specific marketing campaigns.

One of the major hurdles for new entrants is standing out in an already saturated market, alongside other incoming brands. To overcome this, carmakers can take a number of different approaches. This can include emphasising BEV innovation, value for money, quality, customer experience and differentiated design.

To find out more about Europe’s BEV market and Autovista Group’s products and services head over to the webinar landing page.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

Is bigger really better for BEV batteries?

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Bigger batteries may remedy range anxiety, but smaller power-storage units can reduce costs and purchase prices of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Dr Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist of Autovista Group (part of J.D. Power), explores the economies of smaller batteries.

As the BEV market develops, with carmakers introducing new models, not all brands offer a variety of battery-size options. This is a valid approach, as focusing on larger power-storage units helps to tackle both range anxiety and charging anxiety.

This means peace of mind and conveys an impression of being future-proof. This is especially true as charging infrastructure continues to develop across Europe, where it currently may struggle to meet demand.

Few will question the logic of choosing a larger battery, while selecting a smaller one may raise some eyebrows. But is it rational to opt for the biggest battery unit available, especially as it is the most expensive BEV component? The short answer is ‘it depends’.

To understand whether bigger really is better, some facts need to be unpacked. This can be achieved by comparing the standard and the long-range variants of the Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX30, with a focus on the rear-wheel drive (RWD) single-motor variants.

The Model Y was not only the best-selling car in Europe last year, but it also took the global title. Meanwhile, the recently introduced EX30 emphasises mass-market compatibility, in a vehicle segment where this has been absent for so long.

The cost of greater range

When comparing online transaction prices for new vehicles after fees and applicable company discounts, the initial challenge for bigger batteries is revealed. An additional range of approximately 140km costs between €3,400 and €4,500 (net). This price increase is smaller for Tesla than for Volvo, both in absolute and relative terms.

As a side note, the Model Y is attractively priced, and Volvo needs to offer an additional discount of €2,100 (net) to maintain the required distance between transaction prices. The larger Model Y also offers three times the boot volume of the EX30, while also being around 50cm longer and nearly 10cm taller and wider.

Transaction price difference by battery size for Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX30 in Germany

BEV batteries
Source: Manufacturer websites and Autovista Group analysis.

Note: € values are net (exclude VAT). Data from May 2024.

Surprisingly, the WLTP consumption figures do not differ much between each model’s battery variants. In fact, the long-range versions seem to operate more efficiently. Both carmakers use different battery technologies according to the intended range. Their smaller batteries use a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry, while the larger units use a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) makeup. This is the primary contributing factor to the different battery efficiencies.

Small and economic?

So, how are battery sizes handled in leasing contracts of 36 months and 60,000km? Under its business leasing offer, Tesla charges a moderate €42 (net) per month for more range. This takes the range of the Model Y from an already considerable 455km (WLTP) to 600km (WLTP).

Across one year this accumulates to €504 of additional cost, and roughly €1,500 over three years. This is less than half of what would be paid if the vehicle was purchased outright.

Care by Volvo, the carmaker’s long-term rental and subscription service model, sits at a monthly premium of €59. This adds up to €708 a year and approximately €2,100 over three years. Under this plan, the EX30 goes from a lower range of 337km (WLPT) to a solid 476km (WLTP).

Despite these relatively small uplifts, the price still clearly points towards the smaller battery being the more economical choice. However, it is important to consider how usage impacts utilisation costs. When driving in higher-mileage scenarios, BEVs with a smaller range may require substantially more frequent public charging stops, which are more expensive and less convenient.

Testing with two scenarios

Two scenarios can be used to simulate these economic conditions, alongside certain assumptions.

In the first scenario, 80% of the annual 20,000km mileage covers short trips where all charging takes place at home or the workplace. Here, electricity costs are comparatively lower, at €0.25 per kWh (net) in Germany.

The remaining 20% of the annual mileage (4,000km) is made up of long-distance trips. This consists of four short weekend or business trips of 500km each and two larger journeys of 1,000km each.

It is assumed that the driver charges the vehicle to 100% ahead of each trip. Additionally, public charging points are only used when the remaining range reaches 40km, at which point the battery is recharged to 80%. This makes sense in terms of convenience, as it takes roughly the same time to charge from 20% to 80% as it does from 80% to 100%. The costs of fast charging at public infrastructure are set at €0.5 per kWh (net) in Germany.

For the sake of simplicity, real-life ranges are assumed to be 80% of the respective WLTP values for short distances and 65% for longer journeys, conducted at much faster speeds. These assumptions are in line with real-life consumption levels which have been observed, recorded and published in the public domain. Regardless, the overall results are not sensitive to these assumptions.

In the second scenario, the driving pattern is modified so that half of the mileage, 10,000km, is spent on longer trips. This equates to 10 weekend or business trips of 500km each and five longer journeys of 1,000km. The remaining assumptions are unchanged.

Smaller cost savings

Under these scenarios, public-charging costs come down when switching from a short-range model to a long-range one. This is the case for both the Model Y and the EX30, however, the savings are not as significant as some might hope.

The annual cost savings accrued due to less public charging is only between €59 and €62 a year in scenario one and between €149 and €154 in scenario two. Savings partially erode as the car still needs to be charged, albeit at more affordable domestic or company wallboxes.

Annual cost difference when moving from a standard to a long-range BEV in Germany

electric vehicle
Source: Manufacturer websites, Autovista Group research and analysis.

Note: Leasing rates and charging costs are in € and net (exclude VAT). Vehicles are held for 36 months and the annual mileage is 20,000km. The starting point of ‘lease rate short range’ comes from manufacturer websites and represents the annualised monthly business rate. To balance this comparison, the Tesla Model Y has €111 added each month for insurance. This is because the carmaker does not include insurance in its offer, but Volvo does. Data is from May 2024.

Overall, with net cost savings, it is still more economical to opt for the smaller battery in both scenarios. This means the total cost of ownership (TCO) advantages remain for the smaller battery versions after simulating the more expensive stops at public chargers.

There is a noticeable difference between Tesla and Volvo. The annual TCO difference for the Model Y is only between €406 and €475 in both scenarios. This is because of the smaller premium required for the long-range model versus the standard-range version when compared to Volvo. For the EX30, the TCO difference is between €614 and €669 per year when choosing the larger battery over the standard one.

Calculating convenience

The added convenience of fewer public charging stops must also be considered for those BEVs with a bigger battery.

The standard Tesla Model Y offers such a good range it can handle the use case of scenario one quite well, requiring only 16 stops a year. Meanwhile, the long-range version reduces the annual number of stops from 16 to 10.

Here, the case for a smaller battery may be economically apparent, but for many people, the long-range version offers added flexibility at a small additional cost.

The longer-range variant of the Volvo EX30 reduces the number of stops more significantly from 26 to 16. Therefore, the added convenience of the longer-range version is considerable, but then so is the price premium. This makes it a tie in terms of choice, with budget and actual use case the likely deciding factors.

In scenario two, the standard-range Model Y makes 40 stops a year at public chargers. This will be enough to push most customers towards the long-range version. The TCO disadvantage of the bigger battery comes down to only €406 a year, or €27 per saved stop.

Similarly for the EX30, investing the additional €614 a year in scenario two would make sense. This would bring the stops down to 40 from 65 with the standard range version and costs €25 per saved stop.

A balanced decision

So, if the price or leasing rate increase for a larger battery is small, going big will mean an extra layer of convenience and security. This also reduces stress on developing infrastructure, with more stops requiring more chargers.

If the cost uplift is more substantial, smaller batteries will still deliver, while remaining the more economical choice. This is especially true if shorter trips define a person’s driving pattern.

However, when longer journeys underline a person’s driving pattern, it will be worth assessing the number of stops needed with the given battery variant. This will ensure a well-balanced decision between added costs, extra flexibility and greater convenience.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

Global EV growth forecast in 2024, but challenges remain

Despite current market conditions leading to amendments in global electric vehicle (EV) forecasts, the market is still expected to improve. Neil King, head of forecasting at EV Volumes (part of J.D. Power), presents the outlook with Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry.

The global light-vehicle market, made up of passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs) grew by 10% year on year in 2023. However, the numbers were still below those seen in 2019. This highlights the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply shortages and the cost-of-living crisis.

While there was double-digit growth in Europe and North America (combining the US and Canada), gains were more subdued in China and the non-Triad region. Retail sales in China recovered from a sharp decline in 2022. The country’s government is seeking to stimulate an economy suffering from a struggling property sector, a lacklustre stock market, and high youth unemployment.

Global EV demand to improve

EV demand, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), continues to grow despite economic currents. Global volumes grew 35% year-on-year in 2023 to reach 14.2 million units, equating to a market share of 16.7%, up from 13.6% in 2022. For the first time since 2020, PHEVs (up 47%) grew faster than BEVs (up 30%).

In 2024, EV Volumes expects 16.6 million EV sales, equating to a 19.2% share of the light-vehicle market. Therefore, plug-in deliveries are forecast to grow by 17%, while the total market is only expected to improve by 1%.

However, the global EV share forecast has been lowered, with EV Volumes expecting 1.2 million fewer sales than in its previous outlook. This is largely due to a more cautious prediction for China and the slow development of EV uptake in North America. This translates to around 470,000 fewer EV sales in each region compared to previous outlooks.

Additionally, EV forecasts for Europe and the non-Triad region are each around 130,000 units lower. In the case of Europe, subsidy cuts have led to expectations of a lower EV share.

In the non-Triad region, the downgrade is due to weaker overall market growth. This stems from economic fragility in Japan and Korea, which is having a knock-on effect across other Asian economies.

Lower future volume increase

Global EV sales volumes are forecast to more than double in the coming years. According to the latest data, this will take levels from 14 million units in 2023 to 29 million units in 2027.

Yet the global EV share is predicted to be lower between 2024 to 2028 than previously expected, reaching 22.6% in 2025 and 35% in 2028. From 2029, the EV share is expected to be higher than previously forecast.

This is due to healthier assumptions of EV uptake in the non-Triad region. Alongside this, there has also been a correction to historic light-vehicle sales*, which has increased the EV share in the region.

Between 2023 and 2027, EV Volumes forecast that annual traction battery demand will rise from 0.7TWh to 1.9TWh, up 163%. This will be driven by the desire for longer electric ranges in all vehicle segments. An additional influence is the electrification of the full-size SUV and pickup markets in North America.

However, the trend for larger batteries is slowing as efficiency increases. Lower costs also facilitate their use in smaller vehicles, the electrification of which has been hindered by comparatively tighter profit margins.

Challenges in Europe

In Europe, the new light-vehicle market grew by 13.9% year-on-year in 2023. The sector was aided by improving supply, which reduced order backlogs created by component shortages in previous years.

The EV market faced challenges in several countries throughout last year. France saw its subsidies reduced. Meanwhile, Germany ended incentives for business purchases in September, and abruptly for private buyers in December. Even Norway, considered the leading market in Europe for EVs, announced it was ending VAT exemption for plug-ins.

Nevertheless, EV registrations in Europe increased by 17.3% year-on-year in 2023, to 3.15 million units. This allowed the technology to take a joint 21.3% share of all light-vehicle deliveries, up from 20.7% in the previous year.

There are more challenges ahead in 2024 as order intake is subdued because of high-interest rates. With no more incentives in Germany, the country’s EV market will experience its first full year without financial aid for buyers. In France, subsidies for company buyers have now concluded and EV models exported into Europe are no longer eligible for incentives.

EV Volumes expects European EV deliveries to grow by 18% year on year, to 3.7 million units, accounting for around a quarter of all light-vehicle sales. The growth will be predominantly driven by BEVs, volumes of which are forecast to grow by 23.5% this year, but PHEVs are also forecast to improve in 2024, with 5.6% growth.

The European market share of BEVs and PHEVs combined is forecast to reach 29% in 2025 and 58% in 2029.

China growth continues

In China, the EV boom continued in 2022 with the powertrain’s share rising to 26.7% from 13.9% in 2021. Volumes of EVs, including LCVs, ended close to 6.2 million units. This was a year-on-year increase of 82% in a total light-vehicle market that contracted by 5.3%.

Growth was less dramatic in 2023, at 36%, but with 8.4 million units delivered, the EV share climbed to 33.9%. PHEVs had a stronger share of the EV market, from 18% in 2021 to 25% in 2022. This continued in 2023 with PHEVs accounting for 32% of EV registrations in the year. This was largely caused by the high sales growth of BYD PHEVs and Li Auto EREV SUVs.

Unsurprisingly, other Chinese OEMs are rolling out countless new PHEVs, which will exacerbate their appeal. EV Volumes forecasts that this powertrain will capture a higher share of the EV market in 2024. However, this is mitigated by a BEV price war, meaning the all-electric share is expected to gain ground from 2025 onwards.

Given the challenging economic situation in China, the government is seeking to encourage consumers to spend instead of save. This will support state-owned OEMs in the process, but not necessarily their EV offerings. EV Volumes has reduced the plug-in share outlook, especially in the coming years.

However, in the medium and long term, the China forecast is not restricted by target shares or capacity limitations. EVs are forecast to account for 43% of light-vehicle sales in 2025, rising to 62% in 2029.

Uncertainty apparent in North America

North American EV sales increased by 48% year-on-year in 2022, following a 100% improvement in 2021.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) supports further EV growth in the US. The incentives for producing vehicles and batteries in the also region remain strong but place roadblocks in front of imported brands and models. Furthermore, recent strikes by the Union of Auto Workers (UAW) highlighted the risks that EVs may pose to domestic OEMs and US jobs in the automotive sector.

With 1.64 million units sold in 2023, the EV share of light-vehicle sales rose to 9.4%, up from 7.2% in 2022. The overall market recovery continues, albeit at a slower pace than previously anticipated. Therefore, EV Volumes has lowered its EV share and volume forecasts in the short term as OEMs push back on electrified versions of popular models.

The forecast has also been lowered in the medium and longer term as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved emissions targets that are lower than originally proposed.

OEMs must have a light-duty fleet average of 170g CO2 per mile in 2027, compared to 152g per mile in the draft proposal. This lowers to 85g per mile in 2032, instead of the proposed 82g per mile. The final targets also call for a 49% reduction in emissions by 2032 compared to 2026, instead of the 56% proposed.

The IRA is assumed to stay effective until 2032, but even that could change depending on the outcome of the US election. EV Volumes currently forecasts that the plug-in share of light-vehicle sales will reach 12.7% in 2024, then 16.5% in 2025 and 35% in 2029.

BEVs are expected to account for 81% of the EV market this year, rising to 85% in 2025 and 93% in 2029.

Tricky conditions in non-Triad markets

EV numbers in the non-Triad markets rose sharply for the third consecutive year in 2023, although this was compared to low figures. Demand is increasingly supported by a wider availability of products, higher incentives and lower import tariffs in some countries.

The recovery of the wider light-vehicle market since 2020, which gathered pace again in 2023, has also supported volume growth. Combined EV sales in the non-Triad markets amounted to 292,000 units in 2021, reached 554,000 units in 2022, and exceeded one million units in 2023, with a yearly growth of 91% and 81% respectively.

Volumes of EVs grew by more than 100% in some markets last year. This includes Australia, Thailand, Brazil, Turkey, Malaysia, and Mexico. Meanwhile, India and Japan saw growth of above 50%. Nevertheless, the combined EV share was only 3.5% in 2023, albeit up from 2.1% in 2022. Markets such as India, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico still sell very few EVs relative to their size.

This also pulls down the global average EV share, as the non-Triad countries accounted for a third of global light-vehicle sales last year. EV Volumes has broadly maintained its EV share forecast in the coming years, but has increased the potential in the longer term with India incentivising localised EV production and Japan forging ahead with the development of solid-state batteries.

For 2024, an EV share of 4.9% in the non-Triad countries is expected, with around 1.4 million sales, boosted by various factors such as discounting in Thailand, for example. The EV share is predicted to rise to 6.5% in 2025 and 14.5% in 2029, trailing global EV adoption by about six years. Many developing countries impose high tariffs on vehicle imports and unless they exempt EVs, they will need to develop their own EV industry to catch up with adoption in mature markets.

*Global light-vehicle market volumes have been corrected historically as they previously included double-counting of Chinese exports. This also inflated the non-Triad total market volumes, which are calculated by subtracting Europe and Northern America volumes from the global volumes. This means EV Volumes EV shares are higher globally and in the non-Triad region, both historically and in the forecast, than previously reported. However, the volumes of EVs are unaffected.

How important are BEV battery health certificates?

Autovista24

The value of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) can be determined largely by one component. This makes certifying the quality of this part essential to reselling. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus considers the development and importance of battery health certificates.

Remarketing an internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicle inevitably involves referencing the model’s age and mileage. For buyers and sellers, these two numbers bring a car’s history, value and potential into focus.

However, these signposts are blurred for BEVs. The standard measures of time and distance are less informative, with next to no indicators about driving or charging behaviour. This makes a battery a black box of information.

‘Essential information regarding the battery status of an electric vehicle is not readily accessible to customers. It is not displayed on the screen, nor can it be automatically retrieved from the battery management system,’ Dr Marcus Berger, CEO of battery diagnostics company Aviloo told Autovista24.

‘Consequently, the electric vehicle battery is unfortunately often considered a black box. Transparency in the remarketing process is crucial for its smooth operation.’

Battery black box

This lack of information creates concern in the used-car market. Both dealers and consumers can struggle to identify BEVs that have been treated optimally. All-electric cars have felt this impact across European used-car markets.

BEV residual values (RVs) have been falling in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. These countries saw RVs of three-year-old BEVs drop year on year in absolute and percentage terms during January, February and March. Spain has seen values increase, however, all-electric models remain difficult to sell in the country.

As an indicator of demand, used BEV stock days far exceeded that of all other major powertrains across Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Looking at active adverts from the last 12 months on average, only plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) came close. Meanwhile, diesel, petrol and full hybrids (HEVs) took far less time to sell.

Certificate clarity

In a report published in February, the UK House of Lords acknowledged this lack of certainty around electric vehicles (EVs). It highlighted that consumer confidence in the used-car market is being undermined by uncertainty about battery health.

‘We welcome industry’s work to develop a battery health standard that would give confidence to consumers. The government should accelerate its collaboration with industry to develop a battery health standard that is objective and reliable,’ the report reads.

'EVs unfortunately still lose almost 10% more value after three years than combustion engine cars. Independent battery certificates will bring the values of used EVs to the same level as combustion engine cars,’ Berger said.

Autovista Group underscored how battery health certificates can positively influence used-BEV values in a joint whitepaper. Testing can verify the condition of a used battery in the immediate term, while a move to routine certification promotes better treatment of BEVs more broadly.

Surveying more than 2,000 drivers in the UK, the Green Finance Institute (GFI) found that battery certificates and guarantees held high potential. Respondents ranked these as the two leading solutions that would encourage drivers to buy a used electric car.

The potential of these products was also recognised by dealerships. ‘All of the 21 dealerships that contributed to this report agreed that a battery health certificate or battery value guarantee would provide confidence that the remaining battery health is adequate when selling a used EV,’ the GFI stated.

Transparency for traders

Berger highlighted the indispensable nature of transparency and market regulation when it comes to sustainable long-term development. This is something battery-health certificates could deliver, opening the door to faster and more valuable sales for used-car sellers.

These advantages would be accompanied by enhanced credibility, a positive reputation and strengthened client relationships. This means the benefits of battery certificates would be widespread across the automotive sector.

Berger pointed out that carmakers also need a strong used-EV market to meet sales targets. Meanwhile, customers stand to benefit from the security provided by more detailed and reliable vehicle data accompanied by certificates.

In-person tests

Providing in-person tests, Altelium looks to illuminate an area shrouded in complexities. Alex Johns, the company’s partnership lead, explained to Autovista24 that unpacking battery health is a matter of making analysis meaningful to consumers and dealers.

Depending on vehicle type, Altelium’s battery assessment can be carried out on a stationary BEV via a plug-in diagnostic device or API charge testing. By moving past overly-complicated feedback which can be of little practical use at the point of purchase, these results are simplified and visual. This can go a long way in combatting BEV concerns.

‘There are things which obviously worry people,’ Johns said. ‘Range, we can answer those questions. How long the battery is going to last or what the health of the battery is, we can answer those questions and we can put money behind it to give you proper reassurance.’

Peace of mind

Being able to analyse battery performance allows Altelium to provide peace of mind. Carmakers can provide BEV warranties up to approximately 10 years or 100,000 miles, often covering breakdown and degradation. But Johns explained that under these warranties the degradation trigger point is often set at 70%.

‘Nearly all of them have their trigger points at 70% state of health. That is a long way down,’ he said. ‘You will not get to 70% state of health until things have been going wrong for a long time. So, we have come up with one which we call the sleep easy warranty.’

This 12-month cover provides additional reassurance for used-EV purchasers. If the battery health drops by a set percentage in the first year, Altelium issues a fixed cash settlement. The company also provides extended warranties for up to three years after the OEM’s warranty expires.

So, these tests can illuminate important battery information. Alongside this they can form a foundation of financial support, providing used buyers with even more confidence.

App-enabled analysis

Another method of analysis could require little more than a smartphone. Patrick Cresswell, managing director of ClearWatt told Autovista24 that in shaping a solution, his company was focused on creating an agnostic product. The resulting mobile app was designed to benefit all BEVs from day one.

‘We launched the first iteration of our products about a year ago,’ Cresswell said. ‘Since then, we have tested thousands of journeys. We currently have testers across four continents and there is a lot of international demand for what we are doing. We have also launched some very key pilots with the likes of Octopus Electric Vehicles, Motability and others.’

After installing the ClearWatt app, users enter their car model and license plate. Three drives will then need to be completed with the app running. By recording the state of charge at the beginning and end of these journeys, ClearWatt can assess the battery’s health while controlling for other variables such as environmental conditions.

‘What we have essentially built is a mobile telematics device which in very high-frequency bursts, is giving us all of the information we need about driving style, speed, acceleration profiles,’ Cresswell added. ‘We are also getting elevation of the roads, temperature conditions and wind speed and direction.’

Controlling these factors enables analysis of a BEV’s miles-per-kWh performance, where efficiency reveals the state of battery health. This is then compiled into a graded report, enabling greater confidence during the selling process.

Meeting regulations

Battery tests and certificates will not only bolster confidence in used BEVs but may also prove essential when it comes to new regulations. Recently adopted by the European Council, the Euro 7 emission standards look to set battery durability requirements for BEVs.

Under these proposed rules, the battery in an electric car must maintain a minimum of 80% of its capacity in its first five years, or up to 100,000km. After eight years or 160,000km, these units will be required to retain 72% of their original charge capacity.

Meanwhile, from February 2027, the EU Battery Regulation will require passports for EV and industrial power storage units over 2kWh. This digital record will contain key component information including a unique identifier, as well as the battery’s basic characteristics including type and model.

This passport will also need to provide statistics detailing performance and durability. It will need to be updated throughout the battery’s lifecycle by those repairing or repurposing the unit. This information will need to be shared with the public, regulators and service providers who deal with batteries at the end of their life.

A recent study published by Battery Pass assessed the value of the EU Battery Passport. The benefit to RV assessment was among the consortium’s 12 considered used cases. It confirmed that historic performance and durability information made available through the passport could improve the RV determination process.

This would be the result of reducing the need for technical tests and improving assessment accuracy. This would enable decision-making between second-life and recycling options. So, by making performance assessments mandatory, regulations like these could greatly benefit not only the understanding of battery durability but also BEV RVs.

As regulations require greater durability and companies provide better status insights, the importance of battery certificates can only increase.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

Tesla dominates European EV market in February

Electric vehicle (EV) registrations in Europe recorded double-digit growth in February, as Tesla dominated the market. José Pontes, data director at EV Volumes, evaluates the figures with Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist.

A total of 202,542 EVs took to the road in Europe during February, recording a growth of 10% year on year. This meant battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounted for 20% of deliveries in the overall market in February and the year-to-date.

BEVs achieved a 13% share of all passenger-car registrations during the month. The powertrain saw deliveries rise 10% year on year, despite a lack of mass-market EVs. Models that may help boost the sector, such as the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C3, are not yet available in Europe.

Additionally, many markets are still suffering from the ending of incentives. The negative incentive impact is expected to ease in the second quarter of 2024. However, significant BEV growth is not predicted until the second half of the year.

Elsewhere, PHEVs registrations increased 9% year on year. Meanwhile, hybrids (including full and mild powertrains) enjoyed a surge of 24%. The technology accounted for 29% of all new-car registrations in February, meaning almost half of the European market is now electrified.

EV and hybrid growth has come at the expense of diesel, which endured a delivery drop of 5% compared to one year ago, holding 12% of the market. This contrasts with its 50% share in 2015.

Total Tesla domination

Once again, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling EV in Europe, thanks to its 19,946 registrations in February. The mid-size crossover is expected to post similar results in the next few quarters, although it is not predicted to significantly improve on current volumes.

The Model Y’s biggest European market was Germany (5,482 units) followed at a distance by France (1,982 units). Also achieving four-digit demand was the UK (1,759 units), Norway (1,749 units), Belgium (1,737 units), and Italy (1,252 units).

EV
Chart: Autovista24 / Source: EV-Volumes.com / Created with Datawrapper

The Tesla Model 3 secured second, meaning the carmaker took the top two positions in the February best-sellers table. The sedan reached 8,120 deliveries, as demand was boosted by its recent refresh. It is expected to limit volumes for the Model Y in future months.

However, the Model 3 could be challenged for its runner-up position if the Volkswagen (VW) ID.4 recovers and the Renault 5 has a strong production ramp-up. The sedan saw strong performances in the UK (1,410 units), France (1,216 units) and Portugal (762 units).

Positives for Peugeot

Third place went to the Peugeot e-208, which posted its best registration tally since September 2023, with 5,319 models taking to the road. The hatchback has struggled in the last few months following its refresh. Yet, strong demand is now expected after the end of the e-208’s production constraints.

The model is making a big push in its domestic market, as France (4,132 units) was responsible for over 75% of deliveries. The Netherlands (326 units) and the Italy (173 units) followed far behind.

In fourth was the Volvo XC40, reaching 5,034 registrations. The BEV version accounted for the majority of this volume, with 4,808 units. The SUV is not yet being cannibalised by its younger sibling, the EX30.

The strongest market for the model was Germany (1,367 units), while Belgium (636 units) and Sweden (561 units) also had positive results.

The MG4 finished in fifth, thanks to 4,990 deliveries. Its main markets were Germany (1,503 units), France (1,491 units) and the UK (850 units).

Valiant Volvo

The Volvo XC60 PHEV came in seventh (4,251 units), becoming the best-selling plug-in hybrid model in February.

Its sibling, the Volvo EX30, made its first top 10 appearance, reaching ninth with a record 3,675 registrations. This meant three models from the Swedish brand featured in the top 10. The compact crossover is expected to continue climbing the best-sellers chart, with multiple top-five presences likely in the next two quarters.

Elsewhere, the BMW iX1 had a strong February in 11th place, posting 3,540 deliveries. Just behind, the Porsche Cayenne PHEV achieved its best-ever result, with 3,516 registrations placing it in 12th.

This performance was helped by a refresh that improved performance, including a bigger battery. The German SUV was February’s best-selling full-size model and was the second most popular PHEV.

Finally, the VW ID.3 (2,687 units) and ID.4 (2,538 units) returned to the table in February, in 19th and 20th place respectively.

Model Y magic

Looking at the year-to-date table, the Tesla Model Y maintained its lead, thanks to 31,410 deliveries. The crossover doubled the deliveries of the Model 3 in second (14,815 units).

Europe’s top twenty EV sales by model

European EV market
Below, the Volvo XC40 jumped two positions into third with 9,585 registrations. The SUV sits over 5,000 units behind the current runner-up and more than 400 deliveries ahead of the Skoda Enyaq in fourth place (9,124 units).
Thanks to a strong February, the Peugeot e-208 rose five positions to sixth with 8,594 registrations. The hatchback sits just one unit behind the Audi Q4 e-Tron and is predicted to continue climbing up the table over the next couple of months.
Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz GLC PHEV moved into 11th (6,342 units). In 14th, the Volvo EX30 (5,927 units) was a new entry to the year-to-date chart and is expected to join the top 10 soon. Another new model in the table was the BMW iX1 in 15th (5,897 units).

Elsewhere, the Renault Megane EV jumped up two positions to 17th (5,439 units). Below, the Porsche Cayenne PHEV joined the table in 18th (5,281 units).

Last year’s third-place finisher, the VW ID.4, was absent from the top 20 due to a slow start to 2024. March could see the crossover return to the table, along with its sibling, the ID.3.

Tesla on top

Tesla was comfortably Europe’s best-selling EV brand in February, accounting for 11.6% of all plug-in registrations, up 2.5 percentage points from January. BMW came second, with a 10.2% market share down marginally from the previous month.

Tesla

Mercedes-Benz maintained its third position (8.7%, down from 9%), but its lead over Volvo in fourth (8.1%, up from 7.8%) dropped.

Audi lost significant ground in fifth, dropping 1.1 percentage points to a 7.2% share. This meant all of the top five EV carmakers in February were premium brands. VW, the most popular mainstream manufacturer, finished in sixth (5.1%, up from 5%).

With brands grouped together under their parent companies, the VW Group kept its commanding lead but dropped one percentage point to a 19.5% market share.

In second, Stellantis accounted for 12.2% of all EV deliveries (up from 12%), while Tesla took 11.6% of the market. The US carmaker could challenge for the runner-up spot in March.

Meanwhile, the BMW Group dropped marginal share in fourth (10.9%), as fifth-placed Geely-Volvo continued its rise (9.9%, up from 9.6%). The OEM stretched its advantage over Mercedes-Benz Group in sixth (9.2%, down from 9.5%).

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

Launch Report: Volvo EX30 presents premium B-SUV package

Autovista24

The Volvo EX30 is a premium entry to the B-SUV segment. Autovista Group (now part of J.D. Power) experts from Austria, France, Spain and the UK, analyse the model with Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry.

Volvo has long led the charge for sustainable mobility, through both electric drives and the recycling of plastics. It brings this vision to life in the new EX30, a B-segment SUV with a battery-electric drive.

The model allows Volvo to expand into a new marketplace, meeting a growing demand for small electric SUVs. As a premium vehicle in the segment, it allows the carmaker to appeal to buyers looking to stand out from the crowd.

In Autovista24’s latest Launch Report, the EX30’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are benchmarked against its key rivals. New price points are also outlined alongside forecast residual values.

A strong design

The Volvo EX30 is the brand’s smallest SUV. As a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), it enters a market that is becoming increasingly popular and even more congested with models.

So, standing out in the crowd is extremely important, and the Volvo EX30 achieves this. The smooth grille, a feature on BEVs due to the lack of large radiators, allows the brand’s badge to sit prominently.

On each corner, the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ style headlights sweep out and down the sides. This creates a recognisable lighting profile, making the model stand out both during the day and at night.

At 4.23 metres, this is the smallest-ever SUV Volvo has produced but its side profile belies this. The SUV’s tall side panels and doors are lined down toward the front end, providing a feeling of motion even when the vehicle is stationary.

Too minimalistic inside

Inside, the Volvo EX30 sports a minimalistic environment, with few switches and buttons. Instead, most of the auxiliary items are controlled using the 12.9-inch vertically-mounted touchscreen. This also includes the speedometer and driver information.

The EX30 does not have a dedicated driver cluster behind the steering wheel, and there is no heads-up display. This means the driver needs to glance downwards to get any information, and some of this data is buried in a multi-level menu system.

This raises some safety concerns which, for a brand as safety-conscious as Volvo, is a concern. These worries are also noted and addressed by the car itself, which activates audio alerts when it detects the driver’s eyes straying from the road ahead. This forms part of new safety systems designed to monitor driver behaviours.

The seating position is comfortable, and the front of the cabin provides plenty of room. The Geely SEA platform locates batteries beneath the floor, meaning there is no rear tunnel, allowing for more comfort. Yet the position of the front seats does impact legroom for taller passengers in the rear of the car.

Materials are not only of good quality but also contain recycled materials in-line with Volvo’s sustainable attitude. The carmaker states that 17% of the plastics inside the model are recycled, the highest percentage of any Volvo model to date.

Safety remains a priority

For its price point, the EX30 has a high power output, with the single-motor version producing 272hp and a 0-100kph time of 5.6 seconds. The model also offers a decent range, with the entry-level version capable of reaching 340km on a single charge. It provides a comfortable drive, although the twin-motor variant is heavier, which increases the body roll when cornering.

Aside from the issues surrounding the vertical touchscreen display, the EX30 builds on Volvo’s reputation as a brand that cares about safety. Most common assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warnings are available as standard across all trim levels. Meanwhile, the driver monitoring system is helpful if attention is diverted away from the road, for reasons other than adjusting the wing mirrors.

Overall, the Volvo EX30 is a strong entry into the B-SUV segment, one which will appeal to premium buyers looking for a smaller BEV to get around. Some of its flaws are fixable via over-the-air updates, and as the carmaker ramps up production, it is likely to take over as the brand’s most popular model.

View the Autovista Group dashboard, which benchmarks the Volvo EX30 in Austria, France, Spain, and the UK. The interactive dashboard presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

BYD took control of the 2023 Chinese EV market

Electric vehicles (EVs) made up 37% of China’s new-car market in 2023, with BYD and Tesla leading the way. José Pontes, data director at EV-volumes.com, unpacks the results.

The electrification of China’s new-car market has picked up in recent years. Combined registrations of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), meant the EV market represented 6.3% of deliveries at the end of 2020. BEVs alone accounted for 5.1% of the overall figures.

In 2021 this market share grew to 15% for EVs overall and 12% for BEVs specifically. Across 2022, plug-in models accounted for 30% of deliveries in the country, with all-electric vehicles taking a 22% share. By the end of 2023, the EV share had climbed to 37%, with BEVs generating 25% of overall registrations.

So, while electrification in China has improved, the rate of adoption has slowed over the course of the last three years. However, the world’s largest automotive market can still be expected to reach an EV share of 50% by 2026. By this point, BEVs will make up over a third of the new-car market.

BYD Song tops the chart

The BYD Song was the best-selling EV in China last year, repeating its 2022 success. The model finished 2023 more than 100,000 units ahead of the second-place Tesla Model Y. The US crossover surpassed the BYD Qin Plus at the very end of last year.

However, BYD placed five models within the top six positions of the 2023 chart, while also leading every size category.

The BYD Seagull managed to overtake the Wuling Mini EV in the A-segment. The carmaker’s Dolphin model led the B-segment and its Yuan Plus claimed the C-segment. Lastly, the Song secured the D-segment, and the Han took the E-segment. BYD can be expected to top a lot of categories again this year, however, it will face more competition.

The Li Auto L7 and Aito M7 will likely overtake the BYD Han in the E-segment. In the D-segment, the Tesla Model Y will look to state its claim to the title, as BYD’s models compete against each other in the popular category.

This story is likely to be repeated in the C-segment, with the GAC Aion Y competing with the BYD Yuan (Plus and Up). In the B-segment, the Wuling Bingo could become a fiercer contender for the title.

Comparing the 2023 table with the previous year, the Wuling Mini EV dropped five places to seventh due to increasing competition. The ageing BYD Tang also dropped from eighth in 2022 to 13th.

Noticeably, several small EVs were pushed out of the table this year, such as the Changan Benni EV, the Chery eQ1, and QQ Ice Cream. While Changan could rely on the 14th-place Lumin, Chery lost its two spots without any replacements.

Third title for BYD brand

BYD claimed its third brand title in a row last year, with a 33.8% market share. Since it started making plug-in models in 2008, the carmaker has always made it to one of the two top spots in China’s brand table. This highlights its importance to the electrification of the market.

Meanwhile, Tesla took second place in 2023 with a 7.5% share. This marks a step up for the company following three years of third-place finishes.

Thanks to the success of its Aion S and Y models, GAC Aion secured a top-three spot for the first time last year, coming in third with a 6% market share. This is a positive result for the brand after coming fourth in 2022 thanks to a 4.6% share.

Despite the success of its Wuling Bingo, SGMW experienced a significant loss of volume in 2023, as the Wuling Mini EV dropped by about 200,000 units. The brand ended the year with a 5.8% share, contrasting with the 8% it had in 2022.

Li Auto came fifth with a 4.7% share, replacing Changan with 4.3%. However, the latter still managed to finish in sixth while increasing its market share from 3% in 2022. Geely once again took seventh, but made up 4.1% of the market, up from 3.7% at the end of 2022.

Demand set to drop?

With brands organised under automotive groups, BYD was once again the big winner in China with a market share of 35.5% in 2023. Having taken last year’s title, this is likely to be a repeating trend in the coming years.

However, having also claimed first place in the wider overall market, the OEM is starting to near its demand ceiling, leaving little room for growth in China.

In second, SAIC claimed a 7.5% share. The carmaker claimed this spot in the last month of 2023, managing to push ahead of Tesla by just 518 units. In fourth, Geely–Volvo appears set to keep growing. The company ended 2023 with a market share of 7.1%, a significant increase on 5.7% in 2022.

GAC secured fifth, progressing from a 4.9% share in 2022 to 6.5% last year. Changan climbed up a position from 2022, as its market share grew from 4% to 4.8% last year.

Record end to a record year

EVs finished 2023 with another record month. Registrations of plug-in models grew 46% year on year, reaching a record 980,737 units. BEVs (up 31%) saw slower growth than PHEVs in the month (up 81%).

Yet all-electric models accounted for 63% of the EV market in December, but this was below 2023’s BEV 66% average. This was far below the 74% recorded at the end of 2022.

The up-swing in PHEV popularity can be explained by the increasing availability of range-extended models in China. Most of these models feature a battery with around a 40kWh capacity and fast-charging capabilities.

BYD Song dominates in December

The BYD Song continued its run of record-breaking success in December. Out of its 72,182 total deliveries, its BEV version reached a new best of 14,011 units. This highlights how production is leaning further towards the all-electric powertrain.

This could mark the current generation’s peak. The Song was the best-selling model in December’s overall new-car market in China, but there will be increasing competition moving forward. A large portion of this will come from inside BYD, in the shape of the new Song L and the Sea Lion.

In second place, the Tesla Model Y achieved 60,055 registrations in December, a new record. This is impressive considering the increasing amount of competition in the market, including internally from the refreshed Model 3.

As the standard BYD Song gets cannibalised by its siblings, Tesla Model Y can be expected to regularly feature in first this year, even if its sales do not grow significantly.

The BYD Qin Plus ended December in third with 41,142 deliveries. The midsize model is likely to keep competing for a place in the top five throughout 2024, at least until the new Qin L arrives sometime in the near future.

Thanks to constant updates, the Qin Plus is leading the midsize-sedan category, well ahead of the GAC Aion S and the Tesla Model 3.

With 41,012 registrations, the BYD Seagull came fourth. However, this was not a new best for the model, ending a record-breaking streak and suggesting a slowing of deliveries. With exports expected to start soon, the city-car could see greater success in overseas markets where demand for small and affordable BEVs is high.

The BYD Yuan Plus came fifth in December with 30,799 registrations. While the model did well across 2023, a top-five finish might be difficult to replicate this year. Some of its volume will likely be consumed by the cheaper Yuan Up, due to land in the first half of 2024. However, export markets are now the target for the Yuan Plus, especially in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Li Auto’s record results

Having created a niche within the Chinese market, the Wuling Bingo came sixth in December and could enter the top five soon. The eighth-place Aito M7 (25,545 units) also deserves a mention, with the model continuing to accelerate production.

Highlighting a positive month for Wuling HongGuang, its Mini EV ended the month in ninth with 25,015 registrations, a year best.

All three of Li Auto’s models saw record numbers in December. In 11th, the L7 recorded 20,428 registrations, while the L8 marked 15,013 units. Just below, the flagship L9 posted 14,913 deliveries. This means the carmaker hit over 50,000 units in the month while only being present in the full-size segment.

Elsewhere, the Volkswagen (VW) ID.3 kept rising, reaching a best-ever 13,201 sales. This allowed it to reach 17th place.

Outside the top 20

The refreshed Buick Velite 6, a compact estate car, scored a record 8,614 deliveries in December. Meanwhile, the VW ID.4 registered a year-best result of 8,130 units. Add this to the ID.3’s record performance and the German carmaker seems to be enjoying some success in its largest market.

Geely celebrated the Lynk & Co 08 crossing the 10,000-unit delivery mark for the first time. The model passed this milestone after only four months on the market.

Changan posted good results across its line-up. This included 12,480 registrations for the Lumin and 6,978 units of the SL03. However, the highlight was the S7, which recorded 11,360 deliveries. This included 3,250 BEV registrations, a new record for the model.

BYD hailed the first full sales month of its new upmarket brands, Fangchengbao and Yangwang. Their respective first models, the Bao 5 and the U8, hit 4,388 and 1,593 units each. These new brands can be expected to improve the OEM’s profit margins, which could act as a reserve in the country’s price wars.

While SAIC enjoyed good results with the Wuling Bingo and the Mini EV, the brand’s new model, the Starlight, was a particular cause for celebration. The model reached 11,453 units in December, its third month on the market.

Elsewhere in the SAIC stable, the Roewe D7 was also on the rise, taking 7,285 registrations. Meanwhile, the IM LS6 SUV hit 9,878 deliveries in only its fourth month on the market. However, it seems the model’s demand ceiling has already been hit.

What was the most popular EV worldwide in 2023?

The global electric vehicle (EV) market broke records throughout 2023. Leading this charge was the Tesla Model Y. José Pontes, data director at EV-volumes.com, unpacks the year and its most popular performers.

New EVs, consisting of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), saw global registrations jump 35% year on year in 2023. This allowed the electric market to end above the 13 million mark for the first time.

Plug-in models made up a record 22% of the entire new-car market in December, with BEVs accounting for 15% alone. This pushed 2023’s total EV share to 16%, a small rise from 14% in 2022. BEVs made up 11% of registrations worldwide last year, up from 10% in the previous year. It is worth considering that the overall global new-car market experienced double-digit growth in 2023.

PHEVs (up 47%) saw registrations grow more quickly across 2023 than BEVs (up 30%). This meant the hybrid powertrain increased its share of the EV market, reaching 31%, up from 28% in 2022. The PHEV share has been fluctuating between 26% and 31% since 2018, supporting the notion that the technology could remain relevant for a while.

Best-selling car in 2023

The Tesla Model Y recorded 1,211,601 registrations across 2023. This made it the best-selling model in both the new EV and the overall new-car market. The BEV saw deliveries grow 57% year on year, up from 771,000 units in 2022. The crossover can be expected to stay a market leader in 2024.

The BYD Song secured second place, as the Chinese SUV ended the year with 636,533 registrations, up 33% on 2022. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 hit a new record of 529,287 registrations, putting it in third.

But despite its recent refresh, the Model 3 has reached full maturity. The sedan has seen its market share erode from 14% in 2019 to 12% in 2020, then 8% in 2021, 4.7% in 2022 and 3.9% last year. Sales have struggled to maintain momentum since hitting over 500,000 units in 2021.

Compared with 2019, last year’s result represents growth of 6% for the Model 3. But in the same period, the EV market more than doubled from 6.6 million units to nearly 13.7 million units, illustrating the BEV’s market limits.

BYD’s block

Below the top three, there was a block of BYD models. This included the Qin Plus in fourth, the Yuan Plus/Atto 3 in fifth, and the Dolphin in sixth. The BYD Seagull ended the year in seventh, profiting from a great performance in December and jumping two places. This meant the top seven places were dominated by just two carmakers.

The BYD Han won another full-size category title, followed by its sibling, the Tang. But both models saw declining sales in 2023, by 17% for the Han and 7% for the Tang. It will likely be much harder for the Chinese brand to retain the full-size category title in 2024.

In the second half of the table, the Volkswagen (VW) ID.3 was up one position to 15th. Last year was a great one for the hatchback, as its sales jumped 79% year on year to 139,268 units. Thanks primarily to its success in China, this is the first time the BEV crossed the 100,000 mark.

GAC Aion also had a good year with its Y and S BEVs, with sales almost doubling. This put the models in ninth and 11th respectively. But Li Auto made even greater strides, as the startup placed all three of its full-sized EVs in the top 20.

Four models from legacy OEMs made it to the top 20 in 2022, namely the VW ID.4, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the Kia EV6. But this count fell to just two in 2023, with the VW ID.4 in 12th and ID.3 in 15th. Considering the Audi Q4 e-Tron finished in 21st, the top three models from a legacy OEM all belonged to VW Group.

Success by segment

Chinese models took the EV A-segment by storm in 2023. Coming seventh in the overall EV ranking, the BYD Seagull took the category title from the eighth-place Wuling Mini EV. The Seagull is a top contender to repeat its success in 2024. The Changan Lumin came third in the category, far from the top two.

The B-segment also saw many Chinese models succeed. The category was led by the BYD Dolphin which came sixth overall, followed by the Wuling Bingo in 13th. The Peugeot e-208 came next but at a great distance from the top two with some 51,000 registrations. This was more than 100,000 units below the Bingo and some 300,000 units behind the Dolphin.

The C-segment was led by the BYD Yuan Plus/Atto 3. The crossover ended 2023 at 418,994 units, double its 2022 result. The GAC Aion Y came next with 235,861 deliveries, followed by the VW ID.4 with 192,686 registrations. Expect an exciting competition between the top two this year. However, the BYD Yuan Up, a smaller and cheaper sibling of the Yuan Plus, could provide a surprise.

Tesla’s D-segment

Tesla ruled over the D-segment in 2023. The Model Y was the clear leader, while the Model 3 came third. Between the two was the BYD Song. However, the Model Y already looks set to secure the category win again in 2024.

Three Chinese models commanded the E and F-segments. The BYD Han recorded 228,007 registrations, the BYD Tang 141,581 registrations, and the Li Auto L7 134,089 registrations. Should Li Auto or Aito want to compete for a top spot this year, a minimum production capacity of 150,000 units a year will be the bare minimum. Even so, the category leader will likely end up past the 300,000-unit mark.

Pickup trucks saw a second year of relevance in 2023 with around 52,000 deliveries, up 44% year on year. The Ford F-150 Lightening posted roughly 25,000 deliveries while the Rivian R1T managed some 15,000. Geely’s Radar RD6 took third with 4,736 units. In 2024, the Tesla Cybertruck is likely to disrupt this trio.

A total of 9,511 fuel-cell electric vehicles were registered in 2023, down 38% on 2022. This followed a drop from 2021, the year FCEVs reached a peak of 15,434 registrations. In 2023, the Hyundai Nexo (5,000 units) beat the Toyota Mirai (4,000 units).

Best-selling brands in 2023

In terms of brand volumes, BYD beat Tesla by a significant margin in 2023. With a 56% year-on-year growth rate, the Chinese company was the fastest-growing marque in the top three, allowing it to increase its lead to over one million units.

However, this trend is unlikely to continue into 2024. BYD is running out of room to grow in its domestic market, meaning the demand ceiling is closing in. Yet this supports the company’s overseas strategies, plans which could come to define the EV market in 2024.

In 2023, the Chinese brand started to export its EVs in significant volumes. Israel saw 15,000 units, Brazil 18,000 units, and Thailand 30,000 units.

In second place, Tesla’s market share continued to suffer erosion. This sat at 17% in 2019, 16% in 2020, 14% in 2021, and then 13% in 2022 and 2023. This could potentially stabilise around 10% in the future. The US carmaker will need to diversify its line-up if it wants to retake the brand title.

Due to a slow first half of the year, SGMW ended in sixth allowing BMW to take third. It may be difficult for the German carmaker to hold on to this position in 2024, considering the pack of fast-growing Chinese brands behind it.

In fourth, GAC Aion grew 78% to some 484,000 units, however, this growth will be difficult to sustain. So far, the brand has not found a way to replicate the success of its S and Y models.

This puts the carmaker in the sights of the rapidly-growing Li Auto in seventh. Its three current models will reach maturity in 2024. Then there are the upcoming launches of the Mega and the L6, which could mean the brand will deliver up to 700,000 units next year.

Benefitting from a slow December for Toyota, Nio was also able to climb up the ranking in the last month of 2023. The carmaker ended the year in 16th, a five-position jump from its previous year’s standing. However, it could be difficult for the startup to remain in this spot given a lack of new models for 2024 and a sluggish export performance.

The other two brands to benefit from Toyota’s downfall were Ford, climbing one position to 17th, and Jeep, up to 18th. Out of all the legacy marques on the table, Jeep was the fastest growing, having seen its sales jump 53% compared to 2022. It ended the year as Stellantis’ best-selling brand, 23,000 units ahead of Peugeot in 22nd.

Outstanding OEMs in 2023

Gathering EV sales by automotive group, BYD claimed a 22% market share, with 3,012,070 registrations. Tesla came second with an 13.2% share and 1,808,652 deliveries. This puts the two OEMs in a league of their own, controlling over a third of the market together.

VW Group remained in third, with a 7.3% market share, making it the leading legacy OEM. Meanwhile, Geely–Volvo (6.8% share) took fourth from SAIC (5.8% share) towards the end of the year. This means the fight for third in 2024 will be one to watch.

Stellantis (4.2% share) stayed in sixth but has lost half a percentage point compared to the end of 2022. However, the OEM delivered nearly 600,000 units last year. This means it should reach the one-million-unit scale for EV profitability by 2025, or possibly 2026.

BMW Group (4.1%) rose to seventh place and the German OEM should be competing for sixth throughout 2024. Hyundai Motor Group (3.7% share) dropped from seventh in 2022 to ninth in 2023, losing almost a full percentage point from 4.6%. The Korean OEM was also surpassed by GAC, which ended the year with a 3.8% share.

Battle of the BEVs

Looking only at BEVs, Tesla took the 2023 OEM title with 19.1% of the global market. This was up from 18.2% in 2022 but was down from the 23% it commanded at the end of 2020. Second went to BYD with a 16.5% share of the BEV market.

While Tesla’s market is likely to erode slightly in 2024, BYD will keep gaining share. This will be thanks to a larger number of BEVs in BYD’s line-up, including the Yuan Up and Sea Lion. Additionally, exports will be more focused on BEVs, with PHEVs only being used in select markets.

VW Group took third with an 8% share, while SAIC took fourth with a 7.9% holding. In fifth, Geely–Volvo claimed 6.2% of the market. Sixth-place GAC was a sizable distance behind, with a 5.3% share. Nevertheless, the OEM had a positive 2023, up from 4% in 2022.

BYD nears local limit

There are a number of trends already emerging which provide a good insight into what the automotive market can expect from the EV segment in 2024 and beyond.

The BYD brand is already close to its demand ceiling in China, meaning the OEM is increasingly focused on its premium brands. This includes Yangwang, Fangchengbao and Denza.

With a higher average price, margins are expected to improve. This will give BYD more options when pricing its mainstream models. But with competition heating up in the Chinese EV market, BYD will need to keep its line-up fresh to hold on to its share, while also considering pricing.

As such, growth will have to come from overseas markets which is something BYD has been preparing for. As well as buying and chartering its own vehicle vessel, it is building factories in places such as Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Hungary.

Tesla’s production planning

Tesla delivered 1,808,652 units in 2023, but with little in the way of new offerings, the carmaker is unlikely to see rapid growth in 2024.

Tesla’s current issue is its lack of product planning. The Model S is now 12 years old, making a second generation rather overdue. The Model X is in its ninth year, meaning a new version should have been presented by now.

Meanwhile, the Model Y (2020) has reached maturity as has the Model 3, which launched in 2017 and only saw a refresh in 2023. Their successors should, therefore, be on the drawing board. However, this does not appear to be the case. The carmaker would do well to consider how it manages the lifecycles of its products.

VW Group and Geely

While suffering some management changes in recent years, VW Group is still the best-performing legacy OEM by far. With close to one million EV deliveries in 2023, its long-term survival is well assured.

Moving into 2024, the OEM’s leading models will mature. The only new models will be the VW ID.7, the Cupra Tavascan, the Skoda Elroq, the Porsche Macan, and the Audi Q6/A6 e-Tron.

Meanwhile, Geely has been steadily gaining ground in the EV OEM ranking in the last few years, ending 2023 in fourth with 925,111 registrations. This was only some 69,000 units below VW Group.

SAIC the export expert

While SAIC excels at exporting, it could do better locally. The OEM aims to sell around 1.4 million vehicles abroad this year. However, this does include models powered by internal-combustion engines.

With 14 new EVs expected by 2026, SAIC hopes to replicate the MG4’s success with other launches. This includes venturing into the premium end of export markets with its new IM brand. Therefore, 2024 is likely to see a new MG5 station wagon, a ZS crossover, and a flagship SUV model.

Another monthly title for Tesla

The Tesla Model Y took another best-seller position in December, with 128,410 deliveries. The crossover can be expected to keep racking up monthly titles this year as it has reached full maturity. With a refreshed version coming around April, it is likely to be the best year of the current generation.

In second place, the BYD Song hit a record 76,086 registrations. This could be its peak, with the recently-arrived Song L ready to cannibalise a significant volume of its sales in 2024, as will the upcoming Sea Lion.

Third place in December went to the Tesla Model 3, which posted more than 56,896 deliveries, ending well ahead of the BYD Qin Plus in fourth (44,701 units). Further down the ranking the Wuling Bingo came eighth (27,458 units), thanks to its continuous production ramp-up. The small EV seems ready to compete with BYD’s leading models for a top spot in 2024. 

The VW ID.3 finished the month in 15th. The model recorded 17,861 registrations globally in December, its best score since the end of 2020 when VW delivered units to dealerships to comply with emission requirements.

Thanks to price cuts in China, the ID.3 saw its fortunes change completely in the market. This helped compensate for its milder performance in Europe. Elsewhere in the compact category, SAIC’s MG4 (Mulan in China) scored 12,964 registrations in December, its second record score in a row.

Made in China

Some of December’s most significant figures were recorded in the full-size category. The entire Li Auto line-up reached record heights. The L7 marked 20,428 registrations, the L8 saw 15,013 deliveries, while the L9 marked 14,913 units.

December’s best-selling full-size model was the Aito M7, which took ninth place in the EV market with 25,545 deliveries. With Huawei putting its weight behind the brand, sales increasing rapidly.

Every model in December’s top 20 was made in China. A total of 16 belonged to Chinese carmakers, with seven coming from BYD alone. This illustrates the importance of the Chinese market in the broader EV industry.

Successful SUVs

Outside of December’s top 20, the Geely Panda Mini was close to joining the table, having ended the month fewer than 300 units behind the BYD Tang in 20th. The compact Audi Q4 e-Tron was also close, with 11,260 registrations.

In the midsize category, SUVs were trending with several record-breakers. After several years on the market, the Volvo XC60 PHEV hit a best-ever global total of 7,868 registrations. Deliveries of the Lynk & Co 08 PHEV reached 10,055 units, while SAIC’s IM LS6 posted 9,878 units, and the Changan’s Deepal S7 11,360 units.

However, the recent Wuling Starlight from SGMW proved that success is not restricted to SUVs, recording 8,050 deliveries in December. In the full-size category, the Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV reached a record 7,299 registrations.

The BMW i4 achieved another registration record, with 11,203 units delivered in December. This made it the best-selling EV produced outside of China. However, the i4 only posted a fifth of the registrations achieved by its competitor, the Tesla Model 3.

The BMW iX1 also achieved a new best of 8,775 deliveries, its third record in a row. Meanwhile, the iX also shined, with 7,027 registrations.

A record month for brands

BYD managed another record month in December, this time with 320,928 registrations. It once again beat Tesla, which posted 195,265 deliveries.

SGMW came third thanks to a best-ever monthly tally of 69,912 registrations. Its three models (the Mini EV, Bingo, and Starlight) contributed decisively to this performance. In fourth with 59,480 deliveries, BMW had a record month thanks largely to the success of its i4 fastback (11,203 registrations), but also the iX1 (8,775 units) and iX (7,027 units).

VW came fifth with 52,042 registrations, followed closely by Li Auto with a new best of 50,356 units. In the same month last year, it posted 21,233 registrations. In eighth, Changan recorded 43,095 deliveries, its second-best performance in a row, thanks to the Lumin and Deepal S7.

MG4 boosts SAIC

SAIC made it to 11th with a record 35,334 registrations. This was owing to the performance of its star player, the MG4. Aito rocketed up to 12th with its M7 SUV and even larger M9. The brand hit a record 30,108 units in December.

In 13th, Audi also registered its best month with 28,024 deliveries in December, thanks to the Q4 e-Tron. XPeng came 17th, with 7,673 registrations of its G6 midsize SUV in December. This allowed the carmaker to hit a total of 20,105 units in the month, almost catching Hyundai in 16th (20,631 units). Chery came 20th thanks to the positive results of the QQ Ice Cream (7,462 units).

Jeep landed in 21st, making it the best-selling US legacy brand as well as Stellantis’ best-selling marque. With 17,723 registrations, it achieved a new record. This was down to the continued success of the Wrangler PHEV and Grand Cherokee PHEV.

Lynk & Co came 22nd with a new best of 17,505 deliveries. The 08 SUV accounted for the bulk of the registrations (10,055 units), allowing the Chinese brand to end close to the table.

Which manufacturer supplied the largest volume of EV batteries in 2023?

Battery suppliers are a crucial part of the electric vehicle (EV) industry. But which company manufactured the greatest volume of EV batteries in 2023? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus and special content editor Phil Curry explore the numbers.

According to the latest data from EV-volumes.com, global production of EV batteries grew 42% year on year in 2023. This equated to a total output of over 680 gigawatt-hours (GWh) worth of cells made for passenger cars and vans.

Battery suppliers measure their output in GWh rather than the total number of units produced. One GWh is equivalent to one million kilowatt-hours (kWh), the measurement often found in battery-electric vehicle (BEV) specifications. If an average BEV has a capacity of 50kWh, then 1GWh worth of batteries could supply some 20,000 models.

Autovista24 · Which manufacturer supplied the largest volume of EV batteries in 2023?

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Show notes

Autovista24: Who makes the most electric vehicle batteries?

Autovista24: CATL drove global EV battery production in first three quarters of 2023

CATL: CATL and JAC reach strategic cooperation to promote e-mobility

CATL: CATL and MHERO signs strategic cooperation agreement on “CATL Inside”

BYD: BYD to build a new energy passenger vehicle factory in Hungary for localised production in Europe

LG: LG Energy Solution to invest in promising US lithium metal battery technology startup, solidifying leadership in next-generation battery technology

CATL far out in front

The clear front-runner in EV battery production during 2023 was CATL, with a cell output of 243.3GWh, up 48% compared with 2022. The company claimed 36% of the market across the year.

EV battery

Chairman and general manager of CATL, Robin Zeng, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos at the beginning of 2024. He said that battery innovation is central to transitioning the world towards a clean-energy future.

Zeng outlined how scaling wider battery production will benefit the automotive industry. ‘We are focused on the aviation applications for condensed batteries, and as production scales up, we can reduce the cost and use the battery in cars, too,’ he explained.

The manufacturer also recently confirmed two new strategic collaborations. Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) and CATL will cooperate in the supply of EV cells, the introduction of battery-swapping technology, and the joint development of new products.

Meanwhile, the battery maker will also work with MHERO, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Corporation, as part of a three-year cooperation agreement. This will see CATL function as the primary EV-battery partner for the carmaker.

European BEV production

In second place, BYD increased its battery production by 61% year on year, with a cell volume of 117GWh. This meant the manufacturer claimed 17% of the market in 2023.

At the end of the year, the company confirmed it would open a new passenger car factory in Hungary, its first facility in Europe. BYD was keen to point out its vertical supply chain integration, which it claims will help create a local green ecosystem.

While localised vehicle assembly will help keep shipping emissions down, the company has yet to confirm whether batteries will also be made locally.

EV battery supplier

In third, with a volume of 106.8GWh of cell production, was LG Energy Solution. This marked a 16% increase from its 2022 output. In total, the manufacturer claimed 16% of the EV-battery market in 2023.

The company confirmed in late January that it had invested in Sion Power, a startup holding patents in lithium-metal battery technology. A lithium-metal anode can enable greater energy efficiency compared to existing lithium-ion batteries.

A close race

Towards the middle of the table, Panasonic claimed an 8% market share with a cell production volume of 55.8GWh. This was made for growth of 23% compared with 2022.

automotive cell

Next, SK On manufactured 40.8GWh worth of EV battery cells in 2023. This equated to an increase of 31% and a share of 6%. Next, Samsung SDI claimed 5% of the market, with a volume of 35.4GWh, up 41% year on year.

Huge growth

In seventh, CALB produced 24.1GWh worth of batteries, an increase of 21% on 2022. This output allowed the manufacturer to take 4% of the market. Farasis Energy achieved one of the largest rates of growth, up 143% year on year, with a volume of 18GWh and a market share of 3%.

EV cell
Envision AESC was responsible for 1% of production, supplying 8.4GWh of batteries, up 71% on 2022. Finally, Sunwoda produced 7.6GWh worth of EV cells, making for growth of 69% and a market share of 1%.
The unspecified manufacturer category accounted for 3% of the market in 2023, equating to roughly 23.6GWh worth of cells, a total that is up by 38% year on year.

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The green transition of electric trucks and buses

As electric vehicles (EVs) begin to make serious inroads into the passenger-car market, a green transition is also underway for heavy-duty trucks and buses. Przemek Kolasa, data manager for commercial vehicles at EV-volumes.com, examines the progress.

As a large contributor to global greenhouse gas levels, the commercial-vehicle sector is looking towards zero-emission possibilities. The development of battery-electric trucks and buses will lead to significantly cleaner mobility within logistics and passenger transport.

China leads heavy-duty electric-truck market

Currently, OEMs from China lead the way when it comes to the green transition of heavy-duty trucks, with a dominant share of the global market. However, the country has lost some of this share since 2021 as other markets have grown, with domestic OEMs building up their fleets.

In 2021, Chinese OEMs held a 96% share of the global market, while other countries only took a combined share of 4%. The slow shift to a more generalised market began in 2022, with China’s share dropping to 92%. Between January and September 2023, the country held 89%, with the other 11% shared between other regions.

Therefore, Chinese OEMs have seen their market share fall by seven percentage points in two years. This is the result of the green transition picking up in regions such as Europe and the US. As the number of Chinese OEMs in these markets is still relatively small, domestic manufacturers have not been impacted, allowing them to take advantage of their already well-established presence to appeal to regional customers.

Europe’s household names

Figures from the third quarter of 2023 show Volkswagen (VW) Group’s Traton division, led the European electric-truck market with a 37% share. It was followed by AB Volvo (29%) and Daimler Trucks (17%). Together, these three companies accounted for 83% of registrations, with the final 17% made up of all other manufacturers.

From January to September, Traton division, AB Volvo and Daimler Trucks significantly increased their registrations, growing 231%, 342% and 541% respectively year on year. Therefore, while the electric-truck segment is expanding rapidly in Europe, it is doing so without the need for Chinese manufacturers.

A more diverse electric-bus sector

The bus sector’s green transition started much earlier than that of trucks, meaning the market is more developed and diverse.

China does still lead the way, but its share dropped further than in the truck market. While in 2021 the country held a 95% market share, this fell to 90% in 2022. From January to September, the country held 81%. Other markets have eaten into the Chinese advantage, moving from a 5% holding in 2021 to a 19% share in the first three quarters of 2023.

A serious alternative

Unlike the electric-truck market, Chinese penetration in other countries has occurred. Focusing on Europe, domestic manufacturers are starting to offer a serious alternative to established China-based businesses, while the market is more spread out due to the development of green technology in the sector.

In the third quarter of 2023, BYD held a 12% share. However, VW Group, through its Traton division, closed rapidly, ending the period with 11% of the market. Close behind was CAF, which had a 9% market share across the three months.

However, the Traton division has experienced stunning growth in the electric-bus market over the first three quarters of 2023. The company increased its registrations by 242% in the nine-month period, while BYD only improved deliveries by 33%. CAF was also able to close in on BYD, with a 55% registration increase, but far from Traton’s impressive figures.

More to come

There is still a long way to go in the green transition of trucks and buses, as more manufacturers bring their products to market, and further technological developments play a part.

Markets are still in the early stages of a zero-emission push. This means that trends are very much dependent on a number of factors, such as battery development, hydrogen fuel cells for long distances, the market economy, and incentive packages.

All of these elements will play a crucial role in electric-truck and electric-bus uptake, helping propel the green transition of these vehicles further.