Albania as a Regional Outlier: Diesel Dominance Persists Amid Europe’s Green Transition
New data from Eurostat reveals a significant divergence in automotive trends between Albania and the European Union. While the EU moves aggressively toward decarbonization, Albania has emerged as the country with the highest share of diesel-powered vehicles among first-time passenger car registrations in 2024.
This trend stands in sharp contrast to the broader European trajectory, where environmental regulations and technological shifts are rapidly phasing out internal combustion engines in favour of electric and hybrid alternatives.
The Data: A Stark Statistical Divide
According to Eurostat’s latest report on transportation, 66.2% of all passenger vehicles registered for the first time in Albania during 2024 were diesel-powered. To put this in perspective, the EU average for diesel registrations has plummeted to just 14.9%.
The regional comparison further highlights Albania’s unique position:
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Albania: 66.2% diesel share
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Moldova: 47.0%
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Bosnia and Herzegovina: 34.5%
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Other Balkan neighbors: Generally below 30% (excluding Kosovo and North Macedonia, for which data was unavailable).
In absolute numbers, out of the 85,700 passenger vehicles registered for the first time in Albania in 2024, approximately 56,700 were diesel. Conversely, gasoline vehicles accounted for only 17.6% of registrations—one of the lowest shares in Europe—while electric vehicles (EVs) represented a mere 3.3% of the total.
The European Shift Toward Electrification
The European landscape tells a completely different story. The transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) is accelerating, driven by the EU’s ambitious climate goals to reduce the 27% of greenhouse gas emissions currently attributed to transport.
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Denmark: Over half (51.3%) of new registrations are fully electric.
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Sweden, Malta, and the Netherlands: EVs account for more than one-third of the market.
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EU Average: Electric vehicle registrations reached 13.5% in 2024.
Looking back at the decade between 2014 and 2024, the shift is even more dramatic. In 20 representative EU countries, the registration of diesel vehicles fell by 67%, while registrations for fully electric cars grew by 45 times, moving from a negligible 0.3% share in 2014 to nearly 14% today.
Why is Albania Lagging Behind?
The dominance of diesel in Albania is not a matter of consumer preference alone but is rooted in several structural and economic factors:
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Second-Hand Market Dominance: The Albanian market is heavily reliant on imported used cars from Western Europe. As EU consumers sell off their older diesel models to switch to EVs, these vehicles often find a second life in the Albanian market.
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Initial Cost Barriers: The upfront cost of electric or hybrid vehicles remains high compared to older diesel models, making them less accessible to the average Albanian consumer.
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Infrastructure Gaps: The national charging network for electric vehicles is still in its infancy, leading to “range anxiety” and deterring potential EV buyers.
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Policy Incentives: There is a lack of robust fiscal incentives or subsidies to encourage the adoption of “green” vehicles compared to the aggressive tax breaks seen in EU member states.
Looking Ahead
While Albania remains a diesel stronghold for now, the European trend is inevitable. As EU emission standards tighten and the production of internal combustion engines scales down, the supply of diesel vehicles will eventually dwindle.
For Albania to bridge this gap, experts suggest a dual approach: investing in charging infrastructure and implementing fiscal policies that make cleaner alternatives more competitive. Without these interventions, Albania risks becoming a “parking lot” for Europe’s aging, high-emission fleet.
