The shift to electrical automobiles in Europe is proving to have endurance.

Full-electric and plug-in hybrid autos accounted for about 15 % of new-car gross sales within the first quarter, the European Car Producers’ Affiliation mentioned Friday.

Whereas that’s barely lower than throughout the three months by way of December, when stricter emissions guidelines led to a late surge in shipments, it is nonetheless nearly double than the year-earlier interval.

Europe overtook China as the largest marketplace for battery-powered automobiles in 2020, a lead the area is predicted to defend this yr amid beneficiant subsidies in Germany, France and Italy and a slew of latest choices from automakers together with Volkswagen Group and Stellantis.

The newest numbers ought to assist allay issues concerning the electrical shift’s sustainability — raised when automakers pushed EVs into the market late final yr to keep away from fines for overshooting emissions limits.

Gross sales of plug-in hybrid automobiles rose sooner than EVs throughout the quarter. Their market share climbed to eight.1 %, up from 3.2 %, whereas full-electric automobiles accounted for six.6 % of registrations, from 4.2 % final yr.

Whole gross sales of electrified autos roughly doubled from the year-earlier interval, when the primary wave of the pandemic shuttered factories and showrooms.

The resilient EV gross sales are a boon to conventional automakers which have invested massively in retooling their fleets, and buyers are more and more optimistic that they’ll efficiently shift to the electrical age.

VW final yr grew to become the No. 1 electric-vehicle maker in Europe and goals to supplant Tesla as the worldwide chief no later than 2025.