EU new car registrations down 0.7% year-to-date in July 2025

New passenger car registrations in the European Union slipped by 0.7% year-to-date (YTD) in July 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest figures published today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

However, year-on-year (YOY) registrations for July alone rose by 7.4%, highlighting a modest recovery in the monthly figures despite overall stagnation.

Electric vehicle adoption gains pace

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continued their gradual climb, reaching a 15.6% market share for July 2025 YTD, up from 12.5% a year earlier. In total, 1,011,903 BEVs were registered in the first seven months of 2025.

Three of the EU’s largest markets – Germany (+38.4%), Belgium (+17.6%), and the Netherlands (+6.5%) – drove much of this growth, while France posted a slight 4.3% YTD decline despite a 14.8% YOY increase in July.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) remained the most popular powertrain choice, securing 34.7% of the market with 2,255,080 units registered. Strong growth in France (+30.5%), Spain (+30.2%), Germany (+10.7%), and Italy (+9.4%) underscored continued consumer preference for hybrids.

Plug-in hybrids surge

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) registrations also accelerated, rising to 561,190 units – an 8.6% market share versus 6.9% in 2024. Growth was driven by sharp gains in Spain (+94.5%), Germany (+59.2%), and Italy (+60.3%).

Year-on-year figures for July showed strong momentum in electrified vehicle sales, with battery-electric vehicles rising by 39.1%, hybrid-electric vehicles increasing by 14.3%, and plug-in hybrids surging by 56.9%, marking their fifth consecutive month of robust growth.

Petrol and diesel continue to decline

Traditional fuel-powered vehicles saw further losses. Petrol car registrations dropped 20.1% YTD, with notable declines in France (-33.6%), Germany (-25.9%), Italy (-17.8%), and Spain (-12.6%). Petrol’s market share fell to 28.3% from 35.1% a year earlier.

Similarly, diesel vehicles recorded a 26.4% drop in registrations, leaving them with just 9.5% of the market. In July YOY figures, petrol declined 12%, while diesel fell 15.2%, further underlining the sector’s structural shift toward electrification.