New-vehicle sales in Europe fell for the first time this year in March as the electric sales portion declined.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said this year’s Easter holiday timing adversely affected overall sales for the month.

Sales decreased 5% to a million units year-over-year. Battery-electric sales alone fell 11% while hybrids surged 13%, though plug-in hybrids alone fell about 7%, the organization said. Gas-powered vehicle sales fell 10%, diesel about 19%.           

The EV/hybrid breakdown mirrored U.S. patterns of slower EV sales as consumers gravitate more to hybrids when it comes to alternative-fuel vehicles.

Battery-electric vehicles’ share of sales declined from about 14% to 13% year-over-year as hybrids rose from 24% to 29%.

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