EVs outsell diesels for the first time ever

The new car market share for diesel vehicles has dropped from just over 45 per cent, in January 2017, to just under 20 per cent in August 2021. It’s the latter that’s the nexus point for EV and diesel sales numbers, with the former rising from a sub-three-per cent market share in January 2017, to just over 20 per cent in August 2021. Overall, electrified vehicles outsold diesels by 10,100 units in August 2021. This time last year, diesels outsold electrified vehicles by 158,300 units…

Now before we carry on, it must be clarified that hybrids are within this data considered to be electric vehicles. That said, the data also suggests that the sixth best-selling EV outsold the top-selling PHEV.

Of the ten best-selling fully-electric vehicles for August 2021 versus August 2020, six are listed as new to the market, therefore not showing a rise in sales. The Volkswagen ID.3, one of those new cars, is the best-seller, shifting 7,904 units in August '21. That's 80 more than the Tesla Model 3, which itself has seen a 13 per cent rise in sales in August ’21 versus August ’20. Likewise the revised Volkswagen e-Up, is up 119 per cent this August compared to last.

Plug-in hybrids remain firm favourites, with Mercedes GLC and Audi A3 sales jumping 177 per cent and 113 per cent respectively in August ’21 versus August ’20. BMW’s 3 Series and X3 hybrids are up a respective 96 per cent and 84 per cent. New models are dropping all the time, too, as marques seek to drop fleet emissions averages. Three of the ten best-selling PHEVs are new for August 2021’s figures.