The surge is there, but the numbers are still low. In the first quarter of this year, the registrations of electric cars in Europe they recorded a sensational growth: +47% on year, to 88.329 units. Considering all "alternative fuel" cars, i.e. non-fossil, growth is 26,9%, to 295.524 units. it is certified byAssociation of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). Small numbers but which are giving substance to what industry experts had announced: will 2018 be the launch year for electric mobility? A first sign has arrived.
Registrations of fossil fuel cars are declining, but still remain at very high numbers. The new cars Diesel recorded a drop of 17,1%, to 1.603.337 vehicles, while those petrol increased by 14,6%, to 2.355.611.
Also in the first quarter, 55,5% of new cars registered in the European Union were petrol and 37,9% diesel, while alternative propulsion vehicles reached 6,5% of the total, with electric cars at 1,7%.
The country that has seen the largest increase in the sale of new cars with alternative fuels is the Germany (+73,4%), followed by Spain (+53,4%) and from France (+15,3%) while in UK (+9,8%) and in Italy (+9%) the growth rate remained single-digit.
For the only Italian market, the Motorization makes it known that in April 171.379 were registered, 6,47% more than in the same month last year, after the -5,6% year-on-year basis recorded in March.
The figure for the month that has just ended "was positively influenced by the calendar effect, due to the presence of an extra working day compared to last year - explains Adolfo De Stefani Cosentino, president of Federauto – The growth in private registrations is explained by the positive response of this channel to the massive promotions implemented in the month to lighten the stock of new cars of the dealership networks accumulated in the first quarter".
In the same month, fca recorded a drop in registrations of 2,1%, remaining below 46 vehicles. The group's market share in Italy now stands at 26,8%.
In any case, FCA sees seven cars in the ranking of the top 10 best-sellers in Italy in April: in the lead is the Fiat Panda, with 8.716 units, while in third place is the 500 times. Immediately off the podium is the spear Ypsilon, Followed by Fiat 500 e Fiat Type. In seventh place Jeep Renegade, while closing the top-10 is the 500L.
Looking at the first four months of 2018, registrations of the Fiat brand are almost 137 thousand, with a market share in Italy of 18,4%.
