For Southern European countries, we mainly count Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. From January to September 2023, we see that the total car sales in these four countries are: 1.17 million, 710,000, 150,000 and 100,000 (scale of 2.14 million).

 

Italy

  The Italian automobile market showed positive growth in September 2023, with total sales reaching 136,237 vehicles, an increase of 22.7% compared to the same period last year.

 

  Hybrid vehicles sold 53,711 units, a year-on-year increase of 34.8%, becoming one of the fastest-growing models

The number of plug-in hybrid models reached 5,474 units, an increase of 37.1%, and also achieved significant growth.

However, the sales volume of pure electric models was 4,944 units, a year-on-year decrease of 2.3%.

 

  Italy's electrification process is very slow. Judging from the data, there were less than 5,000 pure electric vehicles in September, just over 5,000 plug-in hybrids, and the penetration rate of new energy vehicles was only 7.6%.

 

Spain

  The total sales volume of the Spanish automobile market in September 2023 was 68,803 vehicles, an increase of 2.3% compared with the same period last year.

Pure electric vehicles: 3,724 units (+13.3% year-on-year growth)

Plug-in hybrid: 4,927 units (+18.0% year-on-year growth)

Hybrid: 23,576 units (+13.0% year-on-year growth)

 

  Spain is slightly better than Italy, with a pure electric penetration rate of 5.4% and a plug-in penetration rate of 7.2%. Tesla’s Model Y ranked first, followed by FIAT 500E, and MG’s MG4 ranked fourth.

 

Portugal

  The total sales volume of the Portuguese automobile market in September 2023 was 14,077 vehicles, an increase of 12.6% compared with the same period last year.

 

  Sales of pure electric vehicles reached 2,816 units, a year-on-year increase of 31.0%, while plug-in hybrid models reached 2,454 units, an increase of 60.9%.

 

  The Portuguese automobile market is small, but the overall penetration rate of new energy sources is rising rapidly. Pure electric 20%, plug-in hybrid 17.4%, already more than 1/3.

 

Greece

  The total sales volume of the Greek car market in September 2023 reached 11,401 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 32.5%. The Greek automobile market is diverse and dynamic.

 

  The sales of pure electric vehicles increased significantly, reaching 755 units, a year-on-year increase of 167.7%, which is a very large increase. 

 

  Summary: For the electric vehicle market in Southern Europe to develop, lower cost and more suitable models are needed to promote it. It will be difficult to have such products in Europe in the short term.