GLOBAL sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 35 per cent in October from the same month last year, with growth across all regions led by a 54 per cent jump in sales in China, market research firm Rho Motion said on Wednesday (Nov 13).
European sales rose just 0.8 per cent, but were up in annual terms for the second straight month and the research firm expects a good end to the year in the region, data manager Charles Lester tsaid.
The European auto sector is facing challenges including high production costs, managing the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), and an influx of lower-cost EVs from Chinese rivals.
Europe’s biggest carmaker Volkswagen said in October it planned to shut at least three factories in Germany.
Sales of EVs – whether fully electric or plug-in hybrids – reached 1.72 million vehicles worldwide in October, Rho Motion data showed.
Sales in China hit a record high 1.2 million vehicles.
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In the United States and Canada, EV sales were up 11.4 per cent to 0.16 million, while in Europe, they reached 0.26 million, up slightly on the year but down 14 per cent from September.
In the rest of the world, sales increased 10.9 per cent.
“The Chinese EV market shows no signs of slowing down as it enters the final two strong automotive sales months of the year,” Rho Motion said.
Lester said November and December tend to be seasonally strong months.
Carbon emission reduction goals set in the EU for next year could lead to price cuts as automakers look to boost EV sales to meet targets and avoid fines, he added.
China’s passenger vehicle sales jumped 11.2 per cent in October year on year, data from China Passenger Car Association showed last week, led by domestic champion BYD. REUTERS
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