June 20 Reuters Sales of new batteryelectric cars in the European Union dropped 12 in May from a year earlier, led by a 30 plunge in Germany, data from Europe39;s auto industry body showed on Thursday.

Germany, the bloc39;s largest electric vehicle EV market, in December brought an early end to subsidies for buying EVs as part of a lastminute 2024 budget deal. It has now seen a yeartodate 16 decline in EV sales, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association ACEA.

Overall new car sales in the bloc fell by 3 in May from the same month in 2023, the second drop this year, and were down 2.6 in a wider region covering the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Association EFTA, the ACEA said.

Demand for EVs in Europe has cooled in recent months, after rising strongly for several years, while competition to produce more affordable models has grown.

To shield domestic automakers from an influx of cheap EV imports, the European Commission said last week it would impose provisional duties of up to 38.1 on Chinamade EVs starting July.

U.S. electric carmaker Tesla said last week it expected to increase the price of its Chinamade Model 3 when the EU measures come into effect. Elon Musk39;s company recorded a 34.2 drop in May sales in the EU.

The current stagnation of the EV market has been expected for years but sales should pick up from 2025 when the next EU car emission targets kick in, European campaign group Transport Environment TE said in a briefing on…