Data extracted in September 2025
Planned article update: October 2026
Highlights
In 2024, extra-EU imports of hybrid and electric cars made up 43% of all extra-EU imports of cars.
In 2024, 55% of extra-EU imports of electric cars originated from China.
This article provides a picture of the international trade in hybrid (both plug-in and non-plug-in) and electric cars in the European Union (EU). It compares these 3 groups and shows developments in trade over time the main partners for each of these 3 products. Finally, it shows figures on EU production of these 3 types of vehicles.
Value of trade in hybrid and electric cars
Compared to 2023 the value of imports of hybrid and electric cars decreased from €48 billion to €42 billion in 2024 (Figure 1), a decrease of 12%. Among the types of cars analysed in this article, imports of electric cars (-33%) and plug-in hybrids (-6%) fell while imports of non-plug-in hybrids grew 13% and became the largest category. Possible causes for this development are tariffs the EU imposed on battery electric vehicles from China and the reduction of subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles.
The trend is similar for the exports of hybrid and electric cars (Figure 2) which reached €57 billion in 2024, which was 8% less than the peak of €62 billion in 2023. Full electric vehicles were the largest category, followed by non-plug-in hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids were the only category where export increased between 2023 and 2024. Export values were higher than import values across all 3 categories.
In 2024, compared with 2023, the share of electric cars in total imports of cars decreased by 5 percentage points (pp). By contrast, the share of plug-in and non-plug-in hybrids increased by 1 pp and 3 pp respectively (see Figure 3).
Over several years, between 2017 and 2024, imports of electric and hybrid cars in the EU registered a staggering increase. In 2024, 43% of the total number of cars imported were electric or hybrid, indicating an increase of 36 pp compared with 2017. Full electric cars represented 16% (+15 pp compared with 2017) of total car imports in 2024. Imports of non-plug-in hybrid cars made up 21% (+15 pp) while plug-in hybrid cars made up 6% (+6 pp).
In 2024, compared with 2023, the share of electric cars in total exports of cars increased by (+1 pp). By contrast, the share of non-plug-in hybrids decreased by 1 pp while the share of plug-in hybrids changed very little.
Over a longer period, between 2017 and 2024, exports of electric and hybrid cars in the EU increased strongly (Figure 4). In 2024, 28% of the total number of cars exported were electric or hybrid, an increase of 26 pp compared with 2017. Full electric cars both represented 12% of total car exports in 2024, increasing by 11 pp since 2017, while non-plug-in hybrids reached 11% (+10 pp). Plug-in hybrid cars made up 5% (+4 pp).
Main partners for electric cars
China (55%) was largest origin of extra-EU imports of electric cars. South Korea (16%) also had a double digit share (Figure 5). The United Kingdom (31%) and the United States (23%) were the main destinations of extra-EU exports of electric cars, followed by Norway with 11% (Figure 6).
Main partners for plug-in hybrid cars
The top 4 partners for extra-EU imports of plug-in hybrid cars all had double digit shares (Figure 7). The United Kingdom (26%) had the largest share, followed by the United States (22%), Japan (16%) and China (12%). With 31% the United States was the largest extra-EU destination for exports of plug-in hybrid cars, followed closely by the United Kingdom with 30% (Figure 8).
Main partners for non-plug-in hybrid cars
Japan (31%) and the United Kingdom (23%) were the largest origins of extra-EU imports of non-plug-in hybrid cars, followed by Türkiye (18%) and South Korea (12%) as shown in Figure 9. The largest extra-EU export destination for non-plug-in hybrid cars was the United Kingdom (27%) followed by the United States (18%) and China (14%) as shown in Figure 10.
Production of hybrid and electric cars
In 2024, own production of hybrid and electric cars in the EU amounted to €122 billion which was a decrease of 2% compared with 2023 but an increase of 86% compared with 2021 (see Figure 8). As a share of all own produced cars, electric cars (18%) were the largest of the 3 groups in 2024, followed by non-plug-in hybrids (11%) and plug-in hybrids (9%).
The share of the number of hybrid and electric cars in total own production of cars increased from 21% in 2021 to 32% in 2024. In 2024, the share of both electric cars and non-plug-in hybrids in own production of all cars was 13% while plug-in hybrids (6%) followed at a distance.
Data sources
EU data is taken from Eurostat's COMEXT database. COMEXT is the reference database for international trade in goods. It provides access not only to both recent and historical data from the EU countries but also to statistics of a significant number of third countries. International trade aggregated and detailed statistics disseminated via the Eurostat website are compiled from COMEXT data according to a monthly process.
Data are collected by the competent national authorities of the EU countries and compiled according to a harmonised methodology established by EU regulations before transmission to Eurostat. For extra-EU trade, the statistical information is mainly provided by the traders on the basis of customs declarations.
EU data are compiled according to Community guidelines and may, therefore, differ from national data published by the EU countries. Statistics on extra-EU trade are calculated as the sum of trade of each of the 27 EU countries with countries outside the EU. In other words, the EU is considered as a single trading entity and trade flows are measured into and out of the area, but not within it.
EU data on production of manufactured goods is published annually around mid-July on Eurostat website in Database - Data Browser. Given the data confidentiality, in this article the data on production on own account was used (the production physically carried out on own account by producer).
Methodology
According to the EU concepts and definitions, extra-EU trade statistics (trade between EU countries and non-EU countries) do not record exchanges involving goods in transit, placed in a customs warehouse or given temporary admission (for trade fairs, temporary exhibitions, tests, etc.). This is known as 'special trade'. The partner is the country of final destination of the goods for exports and the country of origin for imports.
According to the requirements in the EBS General Implementing Act, the data on production on own account is reported by Member States under the variable 251001 (Sold production) which includes values and quantities of the sold production produced on own account sold/invoiced during the reference period.
Unit of measure
Trade values are expressed in millions or billions (109) of euros. They correspond to the statistical value, i.e. to the amount which would be invoiced in the event of sale or purchase at the national border of the reporting country. It is called a FOB value (free on board) for exports and a CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) for imports.
Product codes Only passenger cars are considered in this article.
Concerning international trade, the product codes used for the 3 products shown in this article are:
- Full electric: 87038010, 87038090
- Plug-in hybrid: 87036010, 87036090, 87037000
- Non-plug-in hybrid: 87034010, 87034090, 87035000
Concerning production, the product codes used for the 3 products shown in this article are:
- Full electric: 29102450
- Plug-in hybrid: 29102430
- Non-plug-in hybrid: 29102410
Context
Trade is an important indicator of Europe's prosperity and place in the world. The bloc is deeply integrated into global markets both for the products it sources and the exports it sells. The EU trade policy is an important element of the external dimension of the 'Europe 2022 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' and is one of the main pillars of the EU's relations with the rest of the world.
Because the 27 EU countries share a single market and a single external border, they also have a single trade policy. EU countries speak and negotiate collectively, both in the World Trade Organisation, where the rules of international trade are agreed and enforced, and with individual trading partners. This common policy enables them to speak with one voice in trade negotiations, maximising their impact in such negotiations. This is even more important in a globalised world in which economies tend to cluster together in regional groups.
The openness of the EU's trade regime has meant that the EU is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. Thanks to the ease of modern transport and communications, it is now easier to produce, buy and sell goods around the world which gives European companies of every size the potential to trade outside Europe.