Western Balkans faces slow electric vehicle adoption

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the Western Balkans remains significantly lower than the European Union average, with EVs accounting for less than 1% of the total passenger vehicle fleet in the region as of late 2024.

Albania leads the region with an EV share of 0.738%, though this is still roughly three times lower than the EU average of 2.219%. Other regional figures include North Macedonia at 0.260%, Montenegro at 0.232%, Serbia at 0.107%, Bosnia and Herzegovina at 0.047%, and Kosovo at 0.017%.

Adoption rates vary due to differing fiscal policies, subsidies, and infrastructure availability. Montenegro utilizes subsidies to encourage purchases despite limited charging networks, while Kosovo has seen an increase in imports, particularly from China. In contrast, the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains relatively small as industries explore electromobility opportunities.