UK Overtakes Germany as Europe’s Largest Electric Vehicle Market

Aggressive government mandates and steep discounts drive record EV sales in Britain, while Germany and France see declines following subsidy cuts.

The UK became Europe’s top electric vehicle market in 2024, with 381,970 EVs sold, surpassing Germany and France for the first time.
Britain’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which required 22% of car sales to be electric last year, led manufacturers to offer significant price discounts to avoid fines.
Germany’s EV sales dropped by 27% in 2024 to 380,609 after the government ended subsidies, while France also saw a 3% decline in registrations to 291,143.
Electric vehicles made up 19.6% of new car sales in the UK, compared to 13.5% in Germany and 16.9% in France, highlighting Britain’s stronger market share growth.
Industry concerns persist over the sustainability of heavy discounting and ambitious sales targets, with manufacturers warning of potential risks to jobs and investments.