Mission (almost) accomplished

This report focuses on what has become the single most important regulatory driver for emission reductions from cars: the EU CO2 standards.

Published

March 2022

This report examines the performance of automobile manufacturers in the first half of 2020, as well as their compliance strategies, and forecasts the electric vehicle market for 2020 and 2021.

Electric car sales (battery electric, BEV, and plug-in hybrid electric, PHEV) boomed in the first half of the year, reaching a market share of 8%, driven by the entry into force of EU 2020/21 car CO2 emission standards and proof of their success (European Economic Area, EEA). This is more than triple the H1 2019 share as EV sales reach new highs, with Volvo accounting for 23%, BMW accounting for 13%, Hyundai-Kia accounting for 11%, and Renault accounting for 8%. Sales have been increasing since January, both before and after COVID-19, with hybrid vehicles faring better than diesel or gasoline vehicles. Post-COVID purchase incentives kicked in mid-summer in Germany, France, and other countries, and are undoubtedly fueling the emobility momentum, with recent reports of EV sales exceeding 10%.