In this dedicated article we will discover the differences in terms of sales of electric cars in Italy and in the rest of Europe and the world
Italian motor racing was envied throughout the world during the 20th century and still is today. Abarth, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Pagani, Bugatti: all synonymous with racing performance, luxury and style. As wonderful as these fine automobiles are, they guzzle gas. Electric vehicles (EVs) are arguably the next step in automotive as they seek to reduce carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels.
In recent years, sales of electric vehicles have increased around the world. In 2023, global EV sales will reach nearly 10 million units, with two million sold in China and one million in the usually gas-dependent United States. What do Italians think about electric vehicles and how does Italy compare to the rest of Europe and the world?
Sales of electric vehicles in Italy
According to the Association of Foreign Automobile Manufacturers (UNRAE), Italians purchased 11,055 electric vehicles in March 2024, a decrease of 28.9% compared to the previous year. Hybrid vehicle sales in March were 63,905, an increase of 8.9%. Sales of battery electric vehicles plummeted from 8,198 to 5,367, a fall of 34.5%. The total change in EV sales from January to March was -21.5%. Although the Italian government has created a fund to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, particularly for low-income people, sales of electric vehicles are relatively lower than in the rest of Europe.
Electric vehicle sales in Europe
The European Union saw almost 1 million cars sold in January 2014 (935,650), with Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain recording a strong increase: Ireland grew by 32.8% compared to the previous year, Portugal by 31.8%, Greece by 15.4% and Spain by 7.6%. Western Europe (top four economies plus the UK) saw a 23% increase in BEV sales in 2023, with over 1.3 million vehicles sold in 2023. Electric vehicle registrations in Western Europe in 2023 they were 5.36 million out of 10.32 million.
Germany saw a 53% drop in EV sales due to the government's sudden termination of EV incentives. In the UK, in March 2024, 15.2% of all new car registrations were electric cars (48,388). The other major European economies, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, also sold more electric vehicles in 2023. The Netherlands and Austria recorded the largest increases in BEV sales among other European markets in 2023, with increases of 59% and 39% respectively.
Electric vehicle sales worldwide
As mentioned, China leads EV sales in 2023 with two million vehicles, while the United States sold nearly one million, a 54% increase from the previous year. Globally, BEV sales exceeded 9.47 million, with plug-in hybrids reaching 3.84 million units, more than double the figure for 2022 (51%). Australian EV sales continued to grow, with 46,624 EVs sold through June 2023, more than all EV sales in 2022.
In January 2024 they increased by 5.8% compared to the previous year, with a total of 89,782 units sold. 8.4% of all new cars sold are EVs. In Asia, South Korea's EV sales totaled 541,877 in 2023, Taiwan sold 477,021, and Singapore reported 5,468 EVs. In Japan, electric vehicle sales increased by 39% in 2023.
For further updates and news, continue to tune in to techgameworld.com.