According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), new car registrations across the European Union saw a decline of 2.6% in January 2025, with major markets experiencing downturns. France recorded a drop of 6.2%, Italy followed with a 5.8% decrease, and Germany saw a 2.8% dip. However, Spain bucked the trend with a 5.3% increase in new registrations.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) now account for 15% of the market share, up from 10.9% in January 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles surged ahead, commanding nearly 34.9% of the market and reclaiming the top spot among EU car buyers. Conversely, the combined market share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell significantly to 39.4%, down from 48.7% a year earlier.
Battery-electric car sales grew by 34% in January 2025, reaching 124,341 units and capturing a 15% market share. Three of the EU’s four largest markets, accounting for 64% of all BEV registrations, saw strong double-digit gains. Germany led with a 53.5% increase, followed by Belgium at 37.2%, and the Netherlands at 28.2%. France, however, experienced a slight decrease of 0.5%.
Hybrid-electric vehicle registrations also increased by 18.4% in January, with growth in France (+52.2%), Spain (+23.5%), Germany (+13.7%), and Italy (+10.6%). This resulted in 290,014 units being registered, representing 34.9% of the EU market.
Registrations of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) fell by 8.5% to 61,406 units in January 2025. This drop was largely due to significant reductions in key markets, including Belgium (-66.6%) and France (-54%), bringing the market share of PHEVs to 7.4%.
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Petrol car registrations saw a sharp decline of 18.9%, with all major markets reporting drops. France had the most significant fall, with registrations plunging by 28.2%, followed by Germany (-23.7%), Italy (-17%), and Spain (-11.1%). The petrol car market now represents 29.4% of total registrations, down from 35.4% in January 2024.
Diesel vehicles also saw a 27% decline, with their market share shrinking to just 10%. Double-digit declines were observed in most EU markets for both petrol and diesel cars.
