New car registrations across the European Union experienced a decrease of 2.6% in January 2025. This decline was largely driven by decreases in several key markets, including France, Italy, and Germany, according to the latest figures.
The month of January saw battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) increase their market share to 15%, a notable rise from 10.9% in January 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles continued to be a popular choice, accounting for 34.9% of the market. Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars decreased to 39.4%, a significant drop from 48.7% in January 2024.
Electric Vehicle Performance
Sales of new battery-electric cars grew substantially in January 2025, with a 34% increase to 124,341 units. Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, representing 64% of all battery-electric car registrations, experienced strong double-digit growth. France saw a slight decrease.
Hybrid-electric car registrations also saw positive growth, with an 18.4% increase across the EU. Major markets, including France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, all contributed to this rise. Hybrid-electric cars registered 290,014 units, holding nearly 35% of the EU market.
Plug-in hybrid electric car registrations, however, declined by 8.5% in January 2025, reaching 61,406 units. Significant reductions were recorded in Belgium and France, leading to a 7.4% share of total car sales.
Petrol and Diesel Car Trends
Petrol car registrations experienced a substantial decline of 18.9% in January 2025. All major markets saw decreases, with France leading with a 28.2% drop. The market share for petrol cars fell to 29.4%. Similarly, the diesel car market decreased by 27%, resulting in a 10% market share.
