Belux car registrations down 8.1% due to regress professional market

In February 2025, 40,161 cars were registered in Belgium and Luxembourg, a decrease of 8.1%. Importer federation Febiac and the federal service Mobility & Transport point out that for the first time since 2014, the market of individual buyers is again slightly more significant than the professional market. BEVs increased their share to one-third of the new registrations. For the first two months, the total market fell back 10.7%.

Light commercial vehicle registrations also increased in February (+13.4 %) and grew by 11.5% cumulatively for the first two months. Heavy vehicle registrations increased by 22.6% under 16 tons but fell by 7.4% above 16 tons. Cumulated for the two months, both categories still grew, with 10.9% and 4.2%, respectively.

Motorized two-wheeler registrations continue to suffer from this year’s introduction of the Euro 5+ standard for new bikes. This made people hastily buy two-wheelers in the last months of 2024, resulting in a morose two-wheeler market this year: -16.7% in February and -24.7% cumulated for both months.

By power source

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continue to do very well in the Belgian market, accounting for one-third of total registrations for the first two months of this year. The demand for plug-in hybrids has been reducing further, from 14.8% in Jan/Feb 2024 to 8.1% this year.

So-called self-charging hybrids continue their ascent, growing from 9.2% to 12.9% market share. In total, more than 54% of the total car market is now electrified in the Belux in the first two months of this year.

The registrations of gasoline cars stayed stable compared to Jan/Feb last year, with 42% of total registrations compared to 41.8%. The number of diesel cars continues to fall, from an already meager 4.9% to 3.3%, or a one-third regress compared to last year.

By brand

In February, BMW continued to lead the market with a 10.7% share despite a small regress in registrations (-1.3%). Volkswagen remained second (9.7% market share) and increased its sales by 6.2%. The big surprise is Renault, climbing to third place (9.2% market share instead of 4.6% last year), thanks to an 84.1% increase in registrations.

Mercedes is in fourth place despite a 13.2% sales decrease, obtaining a 6.2% market share, down from 6.5%. Fifth place is for Audi, with a 6.1% market share but a decline in sales of 22.6%.

Dacia is sixth (5.5% share) despite a slight decrease in sales (-5.3%), followed by Peugeot (5.4% market share, -1.9% sales). Toyota follows as number eight (5.3% share) due to a 22.5% fall in registrations.

Number nine is Kia (4.3% share, -8.4% in sales), and in tenth place, Skoda (3.8% share) has (just) overtaken Volvo despite a 21.7% sales decrease because the latter saw its sales in January fall by 33.8% (also 3.8% market share).

Also noticeable: Telsa has fallen to 14th place (2.6% market share against 5.2% in January 2024) and saw its sales decrease by 53.7%. Citroën (-33%) and DS (-54.8%) didn’t do well either, and it’s the same for Mazda (-55.7%) and Suzuki (-35.2%).

Last month’s winners were mainly Chinese: MG (22nd in the ranking) obtained a 1% market share and increased its sales by 85.7%. Polestar (27th) grew by 25.9% and is probably benefiting most from the Tesla fall, while BYD (29th) continues its ascent (+55.9%). XPeng, Leapmotor, and Maxus appear in the top 40 charts, as did Korean KG Mobility.

Three Stellantis brands did well last month: Jeep increased its sales by 17.7%, Alfa Romeo by a whopping 122.1%, and Maserati by 160%. Of course, we’re talking tiny numbers here. Jaguar sold fewer cars than Maserati (11), steadily disappearing from the charts.

Cumulated

Looking at the cumulated market for the first two months of 2025, we see an almost similar ranking, except for the fact that Mercedes and Renault change position (3rd and 4th) as do Toyota and Peugeot (7th and 8th) and Volvo and Skoda (10th and 11th). Both brands saw substantial decreases in sales -46 % and -28.6 %, respectively.

Tesla has fallen back to 15th place (-49.7% in sales, 2.5% market share instead of 4.5%), while Polestar has climbed to 26th place with a 63.1% sales increase. MG increased its sales by 35.1% and now sits at 23rd place, while BYD climbed to 28th, increasing its sales by 71.5%. Land Rover saw its sales decrease by 42.4%.

Lancia sold 34 cars in two months, four more than Ferrari and eight more than Maserati. Subaru and Jaguar are threatening to disappear into oblivion, selling just two or one car more than Aston Martin. Lynk & Co. will have to rebuild its market if it wants to return with the new model; its sales fell by 82.5%.