The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is cautiously optimistic for 2015.
Gaining traction? BMWs all-electric i8 Image: BMW Group |
2014 saw European new passenger car registrations up 5.7% on the previous year, reaching 12.6 million units. It was the EU's first postive annual sales result since 2007, according to the European automakers' trade body.
Despite economic uncertainty in many European countries, there have been 16 consecutive months of growth to December. ACEA expects that growth to continue, albeit at a slower pace, predicting a year-on-year increase in the region of 2%.
Alternative power is gradually beginning to feature in the market with more than 75k Electrically Chargeable Vehicles (ECVs) registered across the EU last year. This is a significant 37% increase on the previous year, although it still only represents just 0.6% of the region's total auto market.