The number of new vehicles registered that month in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) grew by 16.1% to 964,932 units, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said.

In the European Union, the increase was 17.2%.

According to ACEA, 44% of the new cars sold in the January-April period in the EU were electric vehicles (EVs), which includes battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles. This compared to a 42% market share a year ago.

(Writing by Rachel More and Bartosz Dabrowski; Editing by Madeline Chambers)