EU car sales at 3-year low in August, EV sales plunge 44pc

NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters): New car sales in the European Union fell 18.3 per cent in August to their lowest in three years, dragged down by double-digit losses in major markets Germany, France and Italy and sliding electric vehicle (EV) sales, auto industry body data showed on Thursday.
The data showed the fourth consecutive monthly drop in EV sales, prompting the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) to demand "urgent action" to prevent further decline.
It said the industry needed "EU institutions to come forward with urgent relief measures before new CO2 targets for cars and vans come into effect in 2025".
Sales of fully electric cars slumped 43.9 per cent in August, as the bloc's biggest EV markets Germany and France recorded drops of 68.8 per cent and 33.1 per cent respectively, ACEA said.
Registrations of plug-in electric cars meanwhile fell 22.3 per cent in the 27-member bloc.
The stacked bar chart shows the share of new car registrations in the EU between January and August 2023 and 2024 by fuel type.
Sales at Europe's three largest carmakers Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault fell from a year earlier, by 14.8 per cent, 29.5 per cent and 13.9 per cent, respectively.
Car sales in Europe are below pre-COVID-19 levels and Volkswagen said in September the trend could continue for the foreseeable future.
Sales at EV maker Tesla fell 43.2 per cent in August, and those for China's SAIC Motor were down 27.5 per cent.