{"id":85312,"date":"2026-02-24T11:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T11:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/europe-at-a-crossroads-electric-car-sales-rise-amid-raw-material-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T11:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T11:37:39","slug":"europa-na-krizovatke-predaj-elektromobilov-rastie-uprostred-krizy-surovin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/sk\/europa-na-krizovatke-predaj-elektromobilov-rastie-uprostred-krizy-surovin\/","title":{"rendered":"Eur\u00f3pa na kri\u017eovatke: Predaj elektromobilov rastie uprostred kr\u00edzy surov\u00edn"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

EVs on the Rise<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From January to September, new passenger car registrations in the EU increased by 0.9% compared to the previous year. September was particularly strong<\/a>, showing a 10% growth, fueled by solid results in major markets like Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.<\/p>\n

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) captured 16.1% of the market, up from 12.6% in August 2024. September alone saw an impressive 20% increase in electric car registrations, signaling progress in the transition\u2014though slower than expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is really something to celebrate. Looking back at where electromobility was ten years ago, you can clearly see how far we\u2019ve come,\u201d comments Jacek Mizak from the Electric Vehicle Promotion Foundation.<\/p>\n

Traditional combustion-engine vehicles are losing ground. Gasoline car registrations fell by 18.7%, and diesel by 24.7%, reducing their combined market share to 37% from 46.8% a year earlier.<\/p>\n

Europe Favors Big Corporations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The current situation sparks debate. Some industry leaders call it a \u201cmanufactured crisis,\u201d blaming delayed policy decisions and protectionism. Others emphasize that raw material shortages and geopolitical tensions are structural threats to key supply chains.<\/p>\n

Mizak criticizes the proposals from the European Automobile Manufacturers\u2019 Association (ACEA).<\/p>\n

\u201cACEA highlights the loss of competitiveness for European companies, which cannot keep up with Asian, especially Chinese, firms because they missed the tech revolution and lag behind in electromobility solutions,\u201d he explains. \u201cACEA suggests extending the transition timeline. But that\u2019s not how it works\u2014European industry needs to invest in change, not postpone it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Critics of EU industrial policy argue that European regulations favor major carmakers, neglecting investment in alternative supply sources, public transport, and low-emission solutions. The result is ongoing dependence on imported critical materials.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne solution could be promoting \u2018local content\u2019: if a car is made from materials produced within the EU, the manufacturer could receive additional carbon footprint credits,\u201d Mizak adds.<\/p>\n

Volkswagen Rules Europe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cEuropean manufacturers are financially healthy; their reports show no losses and still billions in profits. So, we cannot speak of a crisis as it\u2019s often described,\u201d Mizak emphasizes.<\/p>\n

According to ACEA data, Volkswagen dominates the European market with a quarter of sales, while Chinese manufacturers are far behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese cars are technologically advanced but face some growing pains, and building a solid dealer and service network will take years, just as it did for Korean companies,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n

The initial EV rollout focused on premium vehicles due to high technology costs, targeting wealthier buyers, which made electric cars appear as a niche for the rich. However, in recent years, EVs have moved into more affordable segments.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou no longer need \u20ac70,000 in your account to buy an electric car,\u201d Mizak says. \u201cI hope the range for individual buyers will continue to expand, making EVs accessible beyond outright purchase.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Plug-in Hybrid Challenge<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Data shows that amid uncertainty around EVs, hybrids remain the most popular choice, with a 34.7% market share.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople choose hybrids because they fear new technologies like full electric vehicles. It takes time\u2014maybe decades\u2014for society to adapt,\u201d Mizak explains. \u201cMost who switch to electric say they\u2019ll never return to combustion engines. That percentage will grow as more affordable options appear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales are rising rapidly, increasing from 6.9% to 9% in the first nine months, driven by strong growth in Spain, Germany, and Italy. ACEA is pushing for PHEVs to be allowed after 2035, but Mizak strongly opposes this.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn paper, PHEVs look great, but in reality, they rarely run on electricity because people don\u2019t charge them. That\u2019s just how it is,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

New 2025 homologation rules under Euro 6e-bis extend the test distance from 300 km to 2,000 km and change the utilization factor\u2014the share of distance driven on electricity\u2014to 54%, dropping to around 30% in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has tripled the CO\u2082 emissions reported by manufacturers and drastically reduced the PHEV credit. The result will be a gradual phasing out of this technology,\u201d Mizak warns.<\/p>\n

Balancing Trade and Sustainability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The automotive industry is at a turning point. Unregulated raw material shortages, geopolitical conflicts, and regulatory pressure may delay Europe\u2019s transition to electromobility, threaten vehicle availability, and require rebuilding supply chains or diversifying imports.<\/p>\n

Mizak warns that changing the combustion engine ban date for 2035 could jeopardize the EU\u2019s 2050 climate neutrality plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we drastically alter or abandon the combustion engine ban, we remove a crucial piece from Europe\u2019s climate neutrality puzzle. Then, the whole picture becomes incomplete, and it may tempt stakeholders to compromise other elements, risking the entire plan. We have to be careful,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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