This surge in electric car registrations in Europe despite the economic slump reflect two policy measures. Sales shares of electric cars exceeded 50% in Iceland, 30% in Sweden and reached 25% in the Netherlands. Electric cars in Norway reached a record high sales share of 75%, up about one-third from 2019. The United Kingdom more than doubled registrations to reach 176 000. In the large markets, Germany registered 395 000 new electric cars and France registered 185 000. Yet, new electric car registrations more than doubled to 1.4 million representing a sales share of 10%. Overall Europe’s car market contracted 22% in 2020. Several governments provided or extended fiscal incentives that buffered electric car purchases from the downturn in car markets. Notably, electric cars are gradually becoming more competitive in some countries on a total cost of ownership basis. Numerous factors contributed to increased electric car registrations in 2020. China followed with 1.2 million registrations and the United States registered 295 000 new electric cars. For the first time, Europe led with 1.4 million new registrations. Notably, with conventional and overall new car registrations falling, global electric car sales share rose 70% to a record 4.6% in 2020.Ībout 3 million new electric cars were registered in 2020. This was partially offset by stronger activity in the second-half, resulting in a 16% drop overall year-on-year. The first part of 2020 saw new car registrations drop about one-third from the preceding year. Overall the global market for all types of cars was significantly affected by the economic repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. China, with 4.5 million electric cars, has the largest fleet, though in 2020 Europe had the largest annual increase to reach 3.2 million. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for two-thirds of new electric car registrations and two-thirds of the stock in 2020. After a decade of rapid growth, in 2020 the global electric car stock hit the 10 million mark, a 43% increase over 2019, and representing a 1% stock share.