Click to enlarge.
During the May 2025 year-to-date (YTD) period, new EU car registrations fell by 0.6% compared to the same period last year, according to data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA at AutoInformed based on its original French name.* Notably, the anti Elon Musk backlash continued as Tesla sales dropped to 13,863 from 19,227 or -27.9% YoY in May. Year-to Date sales of Musk-mobiles are off -37.1% at 75,196, down from 119,482 YoY.
The lobbying group of 15 major European automakers said that, “Nonetheless, year-on-year (YOY) registrations for May increased by 1.6% compared to the same month last year.”
EU Car Registrations by Power Source
- Up until May 2025, battery-electric cars accounted for 15.4% of the total EU market share, an increase from the low baseline of 12.1% in May 2024 YTD. Hybrid-electric car registrations continue to surge, capturing 35.1% of the market, remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers,
- The combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 38.1%, down from 48.5% during the same period in 2024.
Electric Cars
During the first five months of 2025, new battery-electric car sales reached 701,089 units, taking15.4% of the total EU market share. Three of the four largest markets in the EU, accounting for 62% of all battery-electric car registrations saw gains: Germany (+43.2%), Belgium (+26.7%), and the Netherlands (+6.7%). This contrasted with France, which saw a decline of 7.1%.
May 2025’s YTD figures also showed new EU registrations of hybrid-electric cars rose to 1,601,090 units, with growth in the four biggest markets: France (+38.3%), Spain (+34.9%), Italy (+13.8%), and Germany (+12.1%). Hybrid-electric models now account for 35.1% of the total EU market share.
Registrations of plug-in-hybrid electric cars in May 2025 YTD reached 375,182 units. This was driven by increases in volume for key markets such as Germany (+52.8%) and Spain (+66.6%). As a result, plug-in-hybrid electric cars now represent 8.2% of total car registrations in the EU, up from 7.1% in May 2024 YTD.
Moreover, the YOY variation in May 2025 showed a rise of 25% for battery-electric and 16% for hybrid-electric cars, while plug-in-hybrid electric recorded its third consecutive month of strong growth with a 46.9% increase.
Gasoline and Diesel Cars
By the end of May 2025, gasoline car registrations had declined by 20.2%, with all major markets experiencing decreases. France experienced the sharpest drop, with registrations plummeting by 34.3%, followed by Germany (-26.1%), Italy (-15.4%), and Spain (-13.3%). With 1,305,525 new cars registered so far year-to-date the market share for gasoline vehicles dropped to 28.6%, down from 35.6%. The diesel car market declined by 26.6%, resulting in a 9.5% share for diesel vehicles in May 2025 YTD. The May 2025 YOY variation showed a decline of 18.6% for petrol and 27.6% for diesel.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
ACEA – May 2025 EU Car Sales Flat. Tesla Down Again!
Click to enlarge.
During the May 2025 year-to-date (YTD) period, new EU car registrations fell by 0.6% compared to the same period last year, according to data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA at AutoInformed based on its original French name.* Notably, the anti Elon Musk backlash continued as Tesla sales dropped to 13,863 from 19,227 or -27.9% YoY in May. Year-to Date sales of Musk-mobiles are off -37.1% at 75,196, down from 119,482 YoY.
The lobbying group of 15 major European automakers said that, “Nonetheless, year-on-year (YOY) registrations for May increased by 1.6% compared to the same month last year.”
EU Car Registrations by Power Source
Electric Cars
During the first five months of 2025, new battery-electric car sales reached 701,089 units, taking15.4% of the total EU market share. Three of the four largest markets in the EU, accounting for 62% of all battery-electric car registrations saw gains: Germany (+43.2%), Belgium (+26.7%), and the Netherlands (+6.7%). This contrasted with France, which saw a decline of 7.1%.
May 2025’s YTD figures also showed new EU registrations of hybrid-electric cars rose to 1,601,090 units, with growth in the four biggest markets: France (+38.3%), Spain (+34.9%), Italy (+13.8%), and Germany (+12.1%). Hybrid-electric models now account for 35.1% of the total EU market share.
Registrations of plug-in-hybrid electric cars in May 2025 YTD reached 375,182 units. This was driven by increases in volume for key markets such as Germany (+52.8%) and Spain (+66.6%). As a result, plug-in-hybrid electric cars now represent 8.2% of total car registrations in the EU, up from 7.1% in May 2024 YTD.
Moreover, the YOY variation in May 2025 showed a rise of 25% for battery-electric and 16% for hybrid-electric cars, while plug-in-hybrid electric recorded its third consecutive month of strong growth with a 46.9% increase.
Gasoline and Diesel Cars
By the end of May 2025, gasoline car registrations had declined by 20.2%, with all major markets experiencing decreases. France experienced the sharpest drop, with registrations plummeting by 34.3%, followed by Germany (-26.1%), Italy (-15.4%), and Spain (-13.3%). With 1,305,525 new cars registered so far year-to-date the market share for gasoline vehicles dropped to 28.6%, down from 35.6%. The diesel car market declined by 26.6%, resulting in a 9.5% share for diesel vehicles in May 2025 YTD. The May 2025 YOY variation showed a decline of 18.6% for petrol and 27.6% for diesel.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.