New-vehicle sales had a robust August in the European Union, registrations up 21% to more than 787,000 units.
Delivery increases extended to a 13th straight month, according to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, a group of the 14 biggest Europe-based vehicle makers.
Battery-electric models surpassed 20% of new registrations for the first time at 21%, ACEA reported, as the region continued its transition from gas-powered engines at a much faster pace than the U.S. market. BEV registrations surged 118% and 63% year-to-date, ACEA said.
August, typically high vacation season for many Europeans, tends to be a slower month for car sales, but last month proved different. ACEA credited that to improved supplies as the EU recovers from pandemic-era constraints.
In fact, Germany’s new-vehicle registrations jumped more than 37%, France’s more than 24%.
Year-to-date registrations in the EU are up 18% to 7.1 million, ACEA reports, pointing out that they’re still off the 9 million in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.
