STATISTICS Vehicles equipped with petrol engines still remain in the majority among new registrations.

The Association of European Manufacturers (ACEA) released on Wednesday the figures for car sales within the European Union (EU) in July 2023. The statistics show that 851,156 vehicles have passed over this period. 13.6% of them were equipped with an electric motor and 14.1% were diesels, indicate the data relayed by Les Echos.

This is a return to a situation previously considered normal. In June 2023, for the first time, purchases of electric vehicles had indeed been more numerous than those of diesel-powered models. Still, gasoline-powered cars remain the majority among new registrations, with a share of 35.8% last month. Their number increased by 14% between January and July.

This is less than the increase recorded over the same period by sales of electric models, which reached 55%. Purchases of hybrids have grown by 29% over the same period. All vehicle categories combined, sales increased by 15.2% over 12 months, with high figures in countries where the automotive market is the most dynamic such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Increase in the number of registrations

The European car market is still on the rise. The number of new car registrations across the continent rose in July by 15% year on year. Twelfth consecutive month of increase with just over 850,000 registrations. Petrol cars remain dominant. But the manufacturers are unanimous: nothing promises for the moment a return to record sales as before the Covid. Order books are rather weak in the current context of high inflation and the debate around purchasing power.