In February 2023, the EU passenger car market continued to perform well, growing by 11,5% to 802 763 units, according to the data of the European car manufacturers association ACEA. However, it is essential to note the low base of comparison due to the semiconductor shortage crisis at the beginning of 2022.

Most EU markets showed strong growth, including the four largest ones, with Spain and Italy experiencing the most significant increases (+19,2% and +17,4%, respectively). In the first two months of the year, the EU market reached almost 1,6 million new cars registered, up 11,4% from the previous year, thanks to double–digit increases in both January and February.

Looking at the four major EU markets, Spain (+32,1%) and Italy (+18,2%) saw the highest gains, followed by France (+9,1%). German car registrations remained flat (+0,2%) during this two–month period.

In February, there was a rise in the number of battery electric and hybrid cars registered in the EU, now representing 12,1% and 25,5% of the market, respectively. However, gasoline remained the top choice for newly–registered cars in the EU, with a market share of 36,9%.

Electric cars

Last month, new battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in the EU increased by 39,7% to reach 97 300 cars, resulting in a market share of 12,1%, compared to 9,7% in February 2022.

Except for the Czech Republic (–3,2%) and Slovakia (–28,2%), all markets in the union contributed to this growth with double– and triple–digit percentage gains, including the three largest ones: Germany (+14,7%), France (+45,7%), and the Netherlands (+88,9%). In the UK and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland), the increase was +18,2% and +3,7%, respectively.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) also had a strong month, with sales increasing by 22,3% to 204 883 units. This growth was largely sustained by double–digit gains in the region’s four key markets: Spain (+31,8%), France (+24,6%), Germany (+24,2%), and Italy (+23,9%). As a result, HEVs achieved a market share of 25,5%, up from 23,3% in February 2022. In the UK, the growth was +35,7%, and for EFTA, it was +16,4%.

By contrast, registrations of plug–in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) in the EU decreased by 7,4% to 57 569 cars sold. This decline was mainly due to a significant drop in German sales (–44,8%) following the end of subsidies for plug–in hybrids in 2022. The same tendency for the EFTA countries (-18,1%), but in the UK, PHEVs still gained 1,0%.

Gasoline and diesel

In February 2023, registrations of new gasoline cars in the EU rose by 11,1%, holding a market share of 36,9%, which is on par with the share recorded in 2022. Spain (+19,0%), Italy (+16,3%), Germany (+8,9%), and France (+7,7%) all contributed to this growth. Big growth also in the UK (+34,9%), but a very small decline in the EFTA countries (-0,3%).

On the other hand, the diesel car market in the EU continued to decline (–8,4%), despite increases in some Central European markets like Poland (+18,9%) and the Czech Republic (+12,4%), as well as in Italy (+2,2%). This resulted in a market share of 15,0%, down 3,2 percentage points from February 2022. In the UK, diesel cars regressed by 14,6%; for EFTA, it was -25,6%.

Total car sales in the UK grew significantly in February (up 26,2%). In the EFTA countries, it was more mitigated: Iceland +5,9%, Norway -8,7%, and Switzerland +3,6%.

By Brand

Volkswagen Group remains the most important car manufacturer in the EU in February with a 26,0% market share (+&,5%), with Cupra and Porsche the biggest growers. Stellantis was number two, with a 19,1% market share (-1,9%). Big growers were DS and Alfa Romeo.

Third is Renault Group with a 10,8% market share (+1,3%), with Dacia as the fastest grower; fourth was Hyundai Group (8,4% share), and fifth was Toyota Group (7,3%). BMW Group (6,1%) and Mercedes-Benz (5,7%) rival each other for places six and seven.

The ranking stays almost the same when you add the UK  and the EFTA countries.