Electric car choice is expanding rapidly thanks to EU clean car targets, but weakening the 2030-35 targets would put affordable models and Europe’s position in the global EV race at risk.
European drivers are gaining access to a rapidly expanding range of more affordable electric cars, protecting drivers from Europe’s costly oil dependence. T&E’s latest EV progress report shows that the EU car CO2 targets are delivering as electric car sales hit record highs in the first half of 2026. Sales of models with a starting price below €25,000 are set to rise sevenfold in 2026 compared to 2024. T&E warns that weakening regulation would halt the ramp-up of small affordable EVs and compromise European carmakers’ ability to compete in the global EV race.
The report shows that the regulation is delivering and bringing affordable models to the market. Almost 40 new electric models were launched in the first half of 2026, taking the number of mass market BEVs to more than 150. About 60 new models are expected to be released by the end of 2026. This is nearly 4 times more than the average 15 new models per year over the period 2021–2025. At the same time, the consumer appetite for electric models starting below €25,000 is finally addressed with a doubling of the number of models available. As a result, sales of electric models starting below €25,000 are set to increase by a factor of 7 in 2026 compared to 2024.
Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E, said: “European drivers are finally seeing more of the smaller and more affordable electric cars they have been waiting for.
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