Shift away from petrol and diesel models accelerates
Figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association have shown a continued shift away from petrol and diesel models to electric and hybrids.
The ACEA found that in the first nine months of 2025 sales of electric cars rose 20% to 1,300,188 units, representing a 16.1% share of the EU market.
Meanwhile, hybrid sales rose nearly 16% to 2,793,079 units to account for 34.7% of the total EU market.
In contrast, petrol car registrations declined by 18.7% in the first nine months of the year and diesel sales fell by just under 28%. The combined marketshare of petrol and diesel cars is now 37%, down from 47% last year.
Electric vehicle growth
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association, said: “It is encouraging to see the European new car market continue its recent momentum, with electric vehicles driving growth across the continent.
“While BEV uptake is increasing as in the UK, hybrid vehicles remain the preferred choice for many consumers, albeit still reflecting a gradual but positive transition toward full electrification.”
Meanwhile, new EU car registrations increased by 0.9% compared to the same period last year.
