While the European Union (EU) is striving to encourage automakers to transition to electric vehicles, EV sales across the continent are uneven. The highest rates are found in northern and western European countries, while southern and eastern nations tend to lag behind.

Norway, which has led the electric vehicle revolution in recent years, boasts 94% EV sales. The country aims for complete electric vehicle adoption. Electric vehicle registrations continue to surge, increasing by 31,5% compared to the same period in 2024, while plug-in hybrid registrations decreased by 14,3%. Interestingly, conventional hybrid registrations saw a sharp 66% decline during the same period.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Tesla Model Y - two top-selling electric vehicles in Norway. Photo: AutoExpress.

Following Norway is Denmark, where EV sales accounted for 64% of total new car sales. Sweden (35%), Finland (34%), and the Netherlands (34%) follow with similar figures.

Countries including the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, and Portugal saw EV sales comprise 20-22%. Slightly lower were France, Germany, and Ireland (17-18%).

Meanwhile, just slightly above Croatia are a series of nations with single-digit EV adoption rates, such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, and Italy.

The EU is relaxing its emission reduction targets until 2035 amid strong industry opposition, which argues that EV demand is growing slower than anticipated and more time is needed to transition from internal combustion engines.

In Norway, where the government utilizes its oil-funded national wealth fund to subsidize electric vehicles and invest in charging infrastructure, EV sales reached 94% of total car sales in the first seven months of 2025, according to data from consulting firm Inovev.

Governments and nations in Northern and Western Europe also provide subsidies and invest in infrastructure, boosting sales. However, EV adoption in Southern and Eastern Europe is much slower because electric vehicles remain expensive for many, and charging infrastructure is almost non-existent in some areas. Croatia recorded only 1%, according to Inovev data.

This disparity means that across much of the continent, the overall EV adoption rate in the first seven months of this year was only in the low to mid-single digits.

The EU has allocated funding for charging infrastructure and some EV subsidies across the bloc. But in markets like Spain, which has implemented purchase incentive programs for electric vehicles, Chinese automakers offering more affordable models have benefited more than their European counterparts.

The relaxation of EU emission reduction targets could diminish investment in charging infrastructure, a crucial factor for widespread EV adoption. Some automakers have begun scaling back ambitions; for example, Renault recently cut its electric vehicle charging plans, prioritizing profitability in a challenging market.

In another trend, hybrid vehicles emerged as the top choice for new car buyers in Europe in 2025, accounting for 34,8% of total registrations and surpassing gasoline-powered cars (27,2%) for the first time, according to TradingPadia. Electric vehicles followed closely with 27,3%, indicating a clear and accelerating shift towards electrified transportation across the continent.

By My Anh (according to Reuters)