Car registrations in Europe dropped by 2% in November, with 1,055,319 units registered compared to 1,077,092 in the same month of 2023. Over the first eleven months of 2024, the market showed a modest growth of 0.6%, reaching 11,876,655 units, but remains far below pre-pandemic levels, with a gap of nearly 2.7 million units compared to 2019 (-18.3%).
Among the major European markets, Spain saw an increase in registrations (+6.4%), while Germany (-0.5%) and the UK (-1.9%) experienced slight declines. Italy (-10.8%) and France (-12.7%) reported the sharpest drops.
In terms of the energy transition, Italy continues to lag behind. In November, the market share of rechargeable vehicles (ECV) stood at just 8.4%, with a mere 5.3% for fully electric cars (BEV) and 3.1% for plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
Italy and its gap with Europe
In other European markets, rechargeable vehicles have gained much more traction. In November:
- UK: ECV share at 35.3% (BEV 25.1%, PHEV 10.2%)
- France: ECV share at 26.2% (BEV 17.4%, PHEV 8.8%)
- Germany: ECV share at 22.8% (BEV 14.4%, PHEV 8.4%)
- Spain: ECV share at 12.7% (BEV 6.9%, PHEV 5.8%).
Overall, in Europe, electric cars (BEV) accounted for 17.5% of the market in November, contributing to a 25.4% share for rechargeable vehicles.
Italy’s challenges
According to UNRAE’s Director General Andrea Cardinali, Italy’s delay in the energy transition is not due to the Green Deal but to the absence of a strategic vision and coherent policies. For example, charging infrastructure is inadequate: Italy has dropped to 16th place in Europe with only 11 charging points per 100 km, compared to a European average of 16.4.
Additionally, public charging costs remain a significant barrier. Tax incentives are needed to bridge the gap with other countries and encourage the mass adoption of electric mobility.
Proposals for a sustainable future
To address these issues, UNRAE proposes several key measures:
- Financial support: at least 1 billion euros annually between 2025-27 to promote ecological vehicles.
- Tax reforms for company cars, reducing VAT and encouraging cost deductibility.
- Stable incentives to ensure a sustainable transition and accelerate fleet renewal.
Conclusion
Italy faces a critical choice: invest in sustainable mobility or risk falling behind in the European automotive landscape. The energy transition requires not only concrete policies but also active participation from consumers and stakeholders.
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