According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), overall passenger car registrations in the EU fell by 2.6% year-on-year in January, reaching a low of 831,201 units. France and Italy contributed substantially to this decline, with registrations dropping by 6.2% and 5.8%, respectively. Similarly, Germany recorded a decrease of 2.8%, whereas Spain experienced a 5.3% increase in new car registrations.
In January 2025, sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the European Union experienced significant growth, capturing 15% of the EU car market compared to 10.9% in the same month the previous year. Total BEV sales rose by 34%, reaching 124,341 units. Germany was the primary driver of this increase, with a 53.5% rise in registrations. Belgium and the Netherlands also contributed notably, with growth rates of 37.2% and 28.3%, respectively. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 64% of the total BEV registrations across the EU for January.
The surge in BEV sales can be attributed to several factors, including the expanded availability of electric vehicle models, enhanced government incentives, and a noticeable shift in consumer preference towards electric mobility. However, this upward trend may encounter challenges due to the European Union’s recent implementation of tariffs on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles, which could impact market dynamics.
Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) also saw an increase in registrations, representing approximately 34.9% of the total EU car market in January, making them the most popular choice among consumers. New HEV registrations increased by 18.4%, with France leading the growth at 52.2%, followed by Spain with a 23.5% rise. Germany and Italy also experienced growth in HEV registrations, up by 13.7% and 10.6%, respectively.
Conversely, registrations for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) declined by 8.5% in January, totaling 61,406 units. Significant decreases were observed in Belgium and France, where PHEV registrations dropped by 66.6% and 54%, respectively. Currently, plug-in hybrids account for 7.4% of total EU car sales.
The traditional petrol car segment saw a substantial decline, with registrations down by 18.9% in January. France reported the largest decrease at 28.2%, followed by Germany at 23.7%, Italy at 17%, and Spain at 11.1%. Overall, 244,763 petrol cars were registered, reducing their market share to 29.4% from 35.4% the previous year. The diesel car market also experienced a contraction of 27%.
These trends reflect a significant shift in the European automotive market towards electric and hybrid vehicles, influenced by regulatory measures and changing consumer preferences.
Source: Euronews
