701,089
5,552
+111.7%
5.5%
Czech Republic: Leading in Growth, Lagging in Market Share
Between January and May 2025, the Czech Republic recorded the fastest year-over-year growth in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations across the European Union: a dramatic +111.7%. Despite this, BEVs still make up just 5.5% of all new vehicle registrations in the country, ranking it 19th out of 27 EU member states in terms of BEV market share.
These figures, published by the Czech Clean Transport Initiative, are based on data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
Across the EU, 701,089 new BEVs were registered during the first five months of 2025—an increase of 26.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Yet the broader passenger car market saw a 0.6% year-on-year decline, driven by losses in key markets such as France (-8.2%) and Germany (-2.4%). Spain was a bright spot, posting +13.6% growth.
The composition of vehicle fuel types continues to evolve: hybrid vehicles (non-plug-in) now represent 35.1% of new car sales, followed by petrol (28.6%) and BEVs (15.4%). Diesel vehicles, once dominant, dropped to just 9.5%.
What's Driving Czechia’s BEV Surge?
According to Jindřich Frič, Director of the Czech Transport Research Centre (CDV), several factors have catalyzed this unprecedented growth:
- Delayed impact of the 2024 corporate EV subsidy program
- Expansion of affordable EV options, including domestic models
- Increasing regulatory pressure on fleet emissions
- Improved availability of public charging infrastructure
1. Škoda Elroq – 1,209 units
2. Škoda Enyaq – 850 units
3. Tesla Model Y – 607 units
EU Leaders and Laggards in BEV Adoption
While Czechia leads in relative growth, its market penetration still lags behind Europe’s EV champions. Denmark tops the chart with 63.9% of new vehicles being fully electric, followed by the Netherlands (35.0%) and Finland (34.3%). Within the Visegrád Group, Hungary outperforms Czechia with a 7.2% BEV share, while Poland (4.4%) and Slovakia (4.2%) remain lower.
Three of the EU’s four largest auto markets—Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands—posted gains in BEV registrations. France was the exception, with a 7.1% decline.
Public Charging & User Research: Next Steps for Growth
Over 6,000 public charging points are now available across Czechia, supporting a growing fleet of more than 46,000 registered BEVs. With improved geographical distribution and fast-charging capabilities, this backbone is essential to sustaining market momentum.
The CDV is currently conducting an anonymous online survey focused on the everyday experience of EV users in the Czech Republic. Insights into charging habits, infrastructure use, and user satisfaction will help guide future policy and development.
“The 2024 corporate EV subsidy program, broader model availability, and stronger emission regulations have all contributed to this year's growth. Yet Czechia still has substantial ground to cover in terms of overall BEV adoption.”
