While all eyes are on the likes of Tesla and Volkswagen when it comes to electric vehicles in Europe, there is one stalwart that is dominating sales, the Renault Zoe.

First launched in 2012, it has gained popularity in the past year in Europe and in 2020 has come into its own as the top selling electric vehicle with a growth of nearly 50 per cent with 37,540 for the first half of the year.

It has since had a record level of orders of 11,000 in June. 

It has beaten the likes of Tesla’s Model 3, Volkswagen’s electric version of the Golf and the Nissan Leaf.

The French  five-door small hatchback had a update at the end of 2019 with a 55 kWh battery pack and 100 kW motor, plus a range of 395 km.

“It’s basically the same car that’s been around for a long time,” albeit with some improvements in range, technology and design, said Felipe Munoz, an analyst at auto industry research firm Jato Dynamics told Bloomberg. “So the latest success is a bit surprising.”

There are incentives now available to car buyers who are willing to go electric in France and Germany. The French government is offering as much as €7000 (NZ$12,00) toward the purchase of an electric car, and a cash-for-clunkers program can add another €5000 ($8000) in subsidies. Germany is offering incentives of as much as €9000 ($15,000) per vehicle.

Renault NZ expects to get the updated Zoe later this year.