EU car registrations -1.9% in Q1, BEV share 15.2%

According to data from the European car manufacturers’ association ACEA, new EU car registrations declined by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with March 2025 figures showing a slight 0.2% year-on-year (YOY) decline as the global economic context remains particularly challenging and unpredictable for auto makers.

In Q1 2025, the battery-electric car market share stood at 15.2%, still far from where it was expected. Hybrid-electric models continue to grow in popularity, retaining their place as the most popular power type among buyers.

By power source

Until March 2025, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.2% of the total EU market share, signifying an increase from the low baseline of 12% in Q1 2024.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) surged, capturing 35.5% of the market and remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers. Meanwhile, the combined market share of gasoline and diesel cars fell to 38.3%, down from 48.3% over the same period in 2024.

Electric

In the first quarter of 2025, new battery-electric car sales grew by 23.9%, to 412,997 units, capturing 15.2% of the total EU market share. Three of the four largest markets in the EU, accounting for 63% of all battery-electric car registrations, recorded robust gains: Germany (+38.9%), Belgium (+29.9%), and the Netherlands (+7.9%). This contrasted with France, which saw a decline of 6.6%.

Hybrid

Q1 2025’s figures also showed new EU registrations of hybrid-electric cars (HEVs) rising by 20.7%, driven by significant growth in the four biggest markets: France (+47.5%), Spain (+36.6%), Italy (+15.3%), and Germany (+10.5%). This led to 964,108 units registered in the first quarter of 2025, representing 35.5% of the EU market share.

Registrations of plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEVs) grew by 1.1% in Q1 2025, reaching 207,048 units. This was primarily driven by significant increases in volume for key markets, such as Germany (+41.8%) and Spain (+30.7%). As a result, plug-in hybrid electric cars represent 7.6% of total car registrations in the EU, up from 7.4% in Q1 2024.

Furthermore, in March 2025, YOY variation showed a rise of 17.1% for battery-electric and 23.9% for hybrid-electric cars, while plug-in hybrid electric recorded 12.4% growth.

Gasoline and diesel

By the end of the first quarter of 2025, gasoline car registrations saw a significant decline of 20.6%, with all major markets showing decreases. France experienced the steepest drop, with registrations plummeting by 34.1%, followed by Germany (-26.6%), Italy (-15.8%), and Spain (-9.5%).

With 779,817 new cars registered so far, the market share for gasoline dropped to 28.7%, down from 35.5% during the same period last year. Similarly, the diesel car market declined by 27.1%, resulting in a 9.5% market share for diesel vehicles in Q1 2025.

Overall, double-digit declines were observed in most EU markets. Additionally, the March 2025 YOY variation showed a decrease of 20.7% for gasoline and 25.5% for diesel.

The EFTA markets and the UK showed the same tendencies, with electric cars growing strongly in the first quarter in Iceland (+128.7%) and the UK (+42.6%).

By brand

During Q1 2025, Volkswagen Group was still the biggest, with a 26.7% market share (+1.7%) and a 4.8% sales increase. Stellantis stays number two at a considerable distance, with 16.6% market share (-2.3%) and 14% fewer sales.

Renault Group is number three, increasing its market share from 10.3% to 11.5%, and its sales are up 9.5%. Number four is the Toyota Group, but its market share slightly diminishes to 8.9%, and sales decrease by 4.8%. With a 7.4% market share, Hyundai Group stays fifth despite a 7.2% sales decline.

BMW Group remains in sixth place, with a 6.6% market share and almost flat sales figures (+0.4%), while Mercedes-Benz stays seventh, with a 4.9% market share and a 6.2% sales decline. The next three in the top 10 are Ford, Nissan, and Volvo Cars.

SAIC Motor is the first Chinese manufacturer to rank 11th, with an almost 2% market share and a 52.3% sales increase. Tesla remains the big loser, returning from a 2.4% to 1.3% market share and a 45% sales decline.

Chinese brands sold 91% more cars overall, increasing their market share from 2.4% to 4.5%. Volkswagen now leads the top ten best-selling BEV brands, followed by Tesla, BMW, Audi, Renault, Kia, Mercedes, Skoda, Peugeot, and Volvo.

By model

Looking into specific models, JATO data show that the most popular electric models remain the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.7. The Kia EV3 is fifth, followed by the VW ID.3 and the Skoda Enyaq. Newcomer Renault 5 already occupies eighth place, followed by the BMW iX1 and the Citroën ë-C3.

In March, the Dacia Sandero had to leave the first place to the Peugeot 208 as the overall best-seller. The Renault Group has another car in the top three, the Clio. Fourth is the Nissan Qashqai, followed by the VW Golf and T-Roc, the Opel Corsa, the Peugeot 2008, the VW Tiguan, and, in tenth place, the Ford Puma.