Sales of electric vehicles declined all across Europe last month, with nearly every major EV supplier reporting a drop-off in public interest in the “eco-friendly” alternatives. The decrease in EV purchases, reflected in the American market as well, comes despite efforts by the European Union to ban all gas- and diesel-powered cars by the mid-2030s.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), new vehicle registration dropped to 1.38 million units in March, and sales of battery-powered cars dropped by 11.3 percent. Only 13 percent of new vehicles registered in Europe were electric, down year-over-year from 13.9 percent in March 2023 and 14.6 percent from 2023 overall.

According to Bloomberg, this decrease in sales has led to first-quarter drop-offs for popular EV makers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Stellantis, leading many manufacturers to reconsider their plans to phase out gas-powered cars. The EU had previously committed to ban the sale of all new gas vehicles by 2035, but that lofty goal may now be in jeopardy.

Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!

However, this phenomenon is not limited to Europe.

In the United States, where the Biden administration has likewise committed to phasing out gas-powered cars by the 2030s, these same companies have seen a notable decline in both public interest and sales, indicating that consumers remain skeptical about the viability of EV models long-term.

At the same time, the necessary infrastructure to support the EV shift has not materialized. As Valuetainment previously reported, though President Joe Biden once boasted of a goal to build 500,000 EV charging stations in the US—even setting aside a $7.5 billion investment to fund the construction—fewer than 10 have actually been built since he took office in 2021.


Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”

Add comment