Sales of new battery-electric cars in the European Union dropped 12 per cent in May from a year earlier, led by a 30 per centplunge in Germany, data from Europe's auto industry body showed on Thursday. Germany, the bloc's largest electric vehicle (EV) market, in December brought an early end to subsidies for buying EVs as part of a last-minute 2024 budget deal. It has now seen a year-to-date 16 per centdecline in EV sales, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).