In 2023, a total of 56,697 new passenger vehicles were sold in Croatia — a 28.6% increase on 2022, when 44,088 new vehicles were sold. Among these, 1,618 were fully electric vehicles, the highest number of new electric vehicles sold in Croatia to date. Since the start of the year, over 6,417 electric vehicles have been registered in total — a figure that is closer to 7,000 when used and imported electric vehicles are taken into account.
Tourism is also a relevant factor: foreign tourists arrive in Croatia in large numbers during the season, adding to demand for charging infrastructure. Croatian Post is also investing in electric vehicles — this year its fleet grew by 100 new electric vehicles, reaching 423 units, making it the largest electric vehicle fleet in the Republic of Croatia. The share of electric vehicles in Croatia Post’s total fleet has risen to 14%. In addition, parcel lockers are becoming increasingly widespread in Croatia, extending the network of green delivery channels. Parcel lockers are significant in the context of sustainable business, as their use reduces CO₂ emissions by increasing the rate of first-attempt deliveries and reducing the number of locations delivery vehicles need to visit.
Charging Infrastructure and TEN-T Corridor
The TEN-T corridor in Croatia covers motorways on the Ljubljana–Zagreb and Varaždin–Rijeka routes. The relevant provisions of the AFIR regulation (on alternative fuels infrastructure) therefore also apply to roads connected to this corridor. The goal is to equip at least 50% of roads connecting to the TEN-T corridor with light electric vehicle charging stations by the end of 2027, and all such roads by the end of 2030.
Key providers of charging infrastructure in Croatia include Crodux, Elen (HEP), HT (Croatian Telecom), Ionity, Mol Plugee (Tifon), Petrol, and Tesla Supercharger. Croatia currently has approximately 780 chargers for electric vehicles. Nevertheless, with 34 chargers per 100,000 inhabitants, Croatia’s charging infrastructure is currently 20 times less developed than the most advanced market in the European Union — the Netherlands — and three times below the European average.
The electric vehicle market is recording significant sales growth year on year, making it increasingly important to have adequate charging infrastructure in place so that the country is prepared to meet the challenges ahead.
Are you looking to invest in Croatia? Do you see potential for growing your business in this market? Contact the CroBiz team to find out more about development opportunities, and follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest news from Croatia.