New car sales in the European Union fell 18.3% in August to their lowest in three years, dragged by double-digit losses in major markets Germany, France and Italy, data from Europe's auto industry body showed on Thursday.
Sales of fully electric cars slumped 43.9% in August, falling for the fourth consecutive month, as the bloc's biggest EV markets Germany and France recorded drops of 68.8% and 33.1% respectively, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said.
Sales of battery electric and plug-in cars fell by 43.9% and 22.3% respectively in August, while those of hybrid-electric cars rose 6.6% to a market share of 31.3%.
Registrations at Europe's three largest carmakers Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault all fell from a year earlier, by 14.8%, 29.5% and 13.9%, respectively.
Sales at EV maker Tesla dropped 43.2%, and those for China's SAIC Motor were down 27.5%.