“If the 2030 [CO2 emissions] target is weakened, carmakers are expected to prioritise margins, delaying BEV price parity after 2030,” warned Transport & Environment (T&E) in the report that the think tank published on Thursday, 12 March.
“Weakening the 2030 target now sends the signal to hold back affordable models, and failure in 2030 becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” emphasised Lucien Mathieu, the director of T&E’s cars department.
According to [the think tank’s] analysis, the European market for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) hit record levels in 2025, reaching 19% of the market thanks to European regulations on CO2 emissions from cars. T&E predicts that this share [of the market] will peak at 23% in 2026 and 28% in 2027.
In addition, the prices of these vehicles fell 4%—that being €1,800—in 2025 thanks to more affordable models being rolled out. However, carmakers’ focus on larger segments and SUVs is keeping prices above 2020 levels, thus delaying price parity.
Moreover, half of the carmakers on the market have already achieved their 2025–2027 target. All carmakers are expected to reach the target for this period.
If the EU maintains its CO2 targets for cars in 2030, electric vehicles could achieve price parity with combustion vehicles in all segments by 2030.
Read the study: https://aeur.eu/f/l5i (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)