Increase in Market Share for Electric Commercial Vehicles in ACEA's Interim Financial Report
In the first half of 2025, the European market for trucks and buses showed a mixed picture when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) adoption. While overall truck sales declined, there were positive developments in the electric truck segment, particularly in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands, with its robust EV infrastructure and supportive policies, witnessed a surge of over 187.6% in electric truck registrations. Dutch operators accounted for nearly 20% of all electric trucks registered in the EU during this period. Other major truck markets like Germany, France, Spain, and Italy saw double-digit declines in total truck registrations and showed little progress in electric truck adoption.
In the heavy-duty segment, the market for electric trucks is down by 3.6% compared to the previous year, with only 1.5% of the market share. Interestingly, "Other" powertrains, which include fuel cell, natural gas, liquefied gas, E85/Ethanol, and other fuels, have more new registrations than externally chargeable electric trucks (3,680 vs 1,918).
The story is different in the bus market. Externally chargeable buses have a 21.6% share, with 3,915 new registrations (+26.1%). The share of electrically chargeable vehicles in medium-duty trucks in the EU was 14.3%. However, the bus market operates under different dynamics, with politics influencing demand through tenders and concessions.
Diesel remains the dominant powertrain for medium-duty electric trucks in the EU, with an 83% market share. The number of new diesel registrations for medium-duty electric trucks decreased by 26.9% compared to the previous year. In contrast, diesel remained the dominant powertrain for buses, but its share fell to 64.6%, reflecting a shift towards electric vehicles.
Outside the EU, countries like Switzerland and Norway have also grown in heavy-duty electric truck registrations. In Norway, electric heavy-duty trucks accounted for 7.8% of their respective truck market as of 2024, reflecting higher electrification levels than the EU average.
The market trend signals that, without accelerated infrastructure rollout, financial incentives, and clearer regulatory frameworks, electric medium-duty truck adoption in the EU will remain limited, especially beyond urban and short-haul applications. Major manufacturers and joint ventures are investing in charging infrastructure and vehicle innovation to support electric commercial vehicles' growth, contributing to gradual market shifts.
References: [1] European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) [2] International Energy Agency (IEA) [3] European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)
Sports teams across Europe are increasingly adopting electric vehicles for their logistical needs, following the lead of the Netherlands, which experienced a significant 187.6% surge in electric truck registrations compared to the first half of 2024 in the heavy-duty segment. With its supportive policies and robust EV infrastructure, the Netherlands has become a model for other European countries aiming to boost electric vehicle adoption in their truck markets.
