Electric vehicles outsold diesels for the first time in Europe

The charge towards electrification across Europe is well and truly underway, as electric vehicle sales reached a milestone to close out 2021.

According to Automotive News Europe, western Europe recorded an EV market share of 21 per cent throughout December, beating diesel-powered vehicle sales for the first time ever by just two per cent.

While sales for diesels has been declining throughout the year – down to 2.3 million registrations at the end of September, a 26 per cent drop on the year prior – electric vehicle registrations went through a sharp increase, jumping by around 91 per cent over 2020 levels to 801,025 at the conclusion of the third quarter.

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The past few years have shown a steady decrease in the number of diesel vehicles sold across Europe thanks to emissions charges and fleet emissions targets, while the EV boom can be attributed to a number of incentives across multiple EU nations, as well as an increased level of investment in infrastructure.

Despite Australia's recorded EV sales for 2021 making up just 0.49 per cent of the local market – and only 0.64 per cent of those in Europe – the local desire for electric cars saw a 191 per cent increase over 2020, excluding Tesla which is understood to have shifted at least 10,000 units of its Model 3.

Perhaps European motorists are also buying into EVs early, as the European Union looks to put a ban on internal combustion engine production from 2035 – a move which has forced manufacturers and governments to dedicate more funds towards EV infrastructure.