Click to enlarge.
During Q1 2025, new EU car registrations declined by 1.9% compared to Q1 2024, with March 2025 figures showing a slight 0.2% year-on-year (YOY) decline according to registration data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA derived from its French name.* The battery-electric car market share stood at 15.2% market in Q1 2025, far from where it was expected to be by regulators and analysts. Hybrid electric models continue to grow in popularity, retaining their place as the most popular power type among buyers.
“Up until March 2025, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.2% of total EU market share, signifying an increase from the low baseline of 12% in Q1 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles surged, capturing 35.5% of the market and remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers. Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 38.3%, down from 48.3% over the same period in 2024,” ACEA said.
Electric cars
In the first quarter of 2025, new battery-electric car sales grew by 23.9%, to 412,997 units, capturing 15.2% of 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%.
Click to enlarge.
Q1 2025’s figures also showed new EU registrations of hybrid-electric cars 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 grew by 1.1% in Q1 2025, with a total of 207,048 units. This was 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.
Petrol and Diesel Cars
By the end of the first quarter of 2025, petrol 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 petrol 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 decline of 20.7% for petrol and 25.5% 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.
Hybrid-Electric Cars Dominate EU Car Sales
Click to enlarge.
During Q1 2025, new EU car registrations declined by 1.9% compared to Q1 2024, with March 2025 figures showing a slight 0.2% year-on-year (YOY) decline according to registration data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA derived from its French name.* The battery-electric car market share stood at 15.2% market in Q1 2025, far from where it was expected to be by regulators and analysts. Hybrid electric models continue to grow in popularity, retaining their place as the most popular power type among buyers.
“Up until March 2025, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.2% of total EU market share, signifying an increase from the low baseline of 12% in Q1 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles surged, capturing 35.5% of the market and remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers. Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 38.3%, down from 48.3% over the same period in 2024,” ACEA said.
Electric cars
In the first quarter of 2025, new battery-electric car sales grew by 23.9%, to 412,997 units, capturing 15.2% of 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%.
Click to enlarge.
Q1 2025’s figures also showed new EU registrations of hybrid-electric cars 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 grew by 1.1% in Q1 2025, with a total of 207,048 units. This was 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.
Petrol and Diesel Cars
By the end of the first quarter of 2025, petrol 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 petrol 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 decline of 20.7% for petrol and 25.5% 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.