Wave of affordable electric cars is boosting consumers' choice:…

Key Points:

• European electric vehicle (EV) sales hit record highs in the first half of 2026, driven by a surge in affordable models priced below €25,000, which are expected to increase sevenfold compared to 2024.
• Nearly 40 new mass-market battery electric vehicle (BEV) models were launched in early 2026, with around 60 more expected by year-end, significantly outpacing the average of 15 new models annually from 2021 to 2025.
• The rising availability of affordable EVs addresses strong consumer demand, as exemplified by VW’s ID. Polo selling out with over 40,000 orders and a long waitlist, countering previous claims by manufacturers about low demand.
• EVs offer substantial cost savings amid soaring fuel prices, with switching to electric vehicles potentially saving EU drivers around €350 in running costs by mid-September 2026 due to the oil price shock.
• Transport & Environment warns that weakening EU car CO2 targets for 2030 could drastically reduce the availability of affordable EV models, undermining European competitiveness and increasing dependence on expensive oil.