EU car sales at 3-year low in August, EV sales plunge 44%

STORY: New car sales in the European Union fell 18.3% in August to their lowest in three years.

Auto industry data showed Thursday (September 19) the number was dragged down by double-digit losses in major markets Germany, France and Italy, and sliding electric vehicle sales, which plunged almost 44%.

August marked the fourth consecutive monthly drop for EVs.

That led the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association to demand 'urgent action' to stop further decline.

It said the industry needed EU institutions to come forward with urgent relief measures before new CO2 targets for cars and vans come into effect next year.

The new plunge came as the bloc's biggest EV markets, Germany and France, saw huge falls.

Sales at Europe's three largest carmakers - Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault - fell significantly from a year earlier.

That all left car sales below pre-pandemic levels, and VW said recently the trend could continue for the foreseeable future.

Sales at EV maker Tesla also fell 43% last month, and those for China's SAIC Motor were down more than a quarter.

But one campaign group - Transport & Environment - argued the market will recover.

It projects battery electric cars will reach a total market share of close to a quarter in the EU by next year, mostly due to lower selling prices.