By Ovunc Kutlu
ANKARA (AA) – The market share of hybrid electric vehicles in the EU increased to 25.1% in the first quarter of 2022, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) announced on Thursday.
Hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 20.9% of all passenger car sales in the EU during the same period last year, the ACEA said in a statement.
The figure reached 563,030 during the first three months of this year.
Total registrations of electrically chargeable vehicles also increased in the January-March period.
Battery electric vehicles almost doubled their market share on an annual basis, making up 10% of total passenger car sales with 224,145 units.
Plug-in hybrids account for 8.9% of the EU car market, it added.
Although diesel- and petrol-powered vehicles continue to lose their market share, registrations of traditional fossil-fuel vehicles still dominate the EU market with a combined share of 52.8%, the ACEA said.
Petrol cars remained the most popular in terms of volumes with 808,039 units sold in the first quarter of 2022.
"Motor vehicles are responsible for €398.4 billion ($422 billion) of tax revenue for governments across key European markets," the statement said.
"The automobile industry generates a trade surplus of €76.3 billion for the EU," it added.