MUNICH, May 2 (Bernama-dpa) -- Global sales of electric cars weakened in the first quarter, with sales across 43 key markets analysed by consulting firm PwC down one per cent year-on-year to just under 2.7 million, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
PwC said this was unusual, as the electric vehicle market has shown consistent growth, including an increase of almost a third in 2025.
A decisive factor behind the weak numbers was weak demand in China, by far the largest market.
PwC counted 1.32 million electric cars there, a 20 per cent drop compared with a year earlier.
In the US, the decline was even sharper at 23 per cent, to just under 233,000.
Gains in other parts of the world did not offset the trend, even though sales in Europe – specifically the EU plus the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – rose 26 per cent to just under 724,000 vehicles.
Strong sales in Germany and France were among the drivers of growth there.
Despite the decline in absolute numbers, electric cars continued to gain relevance globally, including because sales of purely combustion-engine cars fell much more sharply, down eight per cent.
PwC said the market share of electric cars was 16 per cent, the highest ever for a first quarter.
PwC also said it assumed the decline in China was mainly due to one-off effects such as reduced subsidies. The trend there was already pointing upwards again.
The consulting firm said it expects that sales of purely electric cars will pick up again in the second quarter.
The environment was difficult, but European manufacturers had caught up, said PwC partner Harald Wimmer.
Wimmer said that new models by European automakers met customers’ tastes.
In their home markets, this is reflected in rising sales volumes, which could be further supported by a potential demand boost due to high fuel prices resulting from the conflict in Iran.
The expert said European carmakers still needed to act on costs and the speed of innovation.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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