In the European Union's car market, sales of battery-electric vehicles have surpassed combined sales of gasoline and diesel cars for the first time. As EVs become more price-competitive and automakers expand affordable models, electrification in Europe's auto market is accelerating.

InsideEVs reported on Oct. 28 that EU battery-electric vehicle sales in the third quarter totalled 710,580. That was about 55,000 more than the combined 655,540 for gasoline cars at 492,930 and diesel cars at 162,610 over the same period. In the second quarter, EVs overtook gasoline-car sales for the first time. In the third quarter, they also surpassed combined gasoline and diesel sales.

Transport & Environment (T&E), a European environmental group, said EVs accounted for 27 percent of the EU new car market in the third quarter. The cumulative share for January to September was 22.7 percent, up 6.6 percentage points from 16.1 percent a year earlier.

The increase in EV sales was not limited to specific countries. Thirteen of the EU's 27 member states posted record quarterly EV sales.

Gaps among countries remain. Norway, which is not an EU member, recorded an EV share of 97.9 percent, while Sweden and the Netherlands also kept their levels high. EV adoption is also expanding in major markets such as France, Germany, Belgium and Britain.

Croatia's EV share, by contrast, stood at 4.2 percent. EV sales there jumped 244 percent from a year earlier, while gasoline and diesel car sales fell 19 percent.

The expansion of affordable EVs is also cited as a driver of growth. China's BYD, Leapmotor and Geely have introduced lower-priced EVs, while Renault, Stellantis, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen are also expanding small hatchback and crossover models.

Hybrids still sold more than EVs. Hybrid sales in the third quarter totalled 892,380, about 180,000 more than EVs.

As EVs in Europe overtake gasoline and diesel cars, some assessments say the auto industry's shift to electrification has entered a new phase. The strength of hybrids and differences in adoption by country remain tasks to be addressed.