Spain’s new-car market remains strong as new incentives take shape

04 March 2026

February provided plenty of positives for Spain’s new-car market. But as the nation’s market continues to grow, is electrification progressing as planned? Autovista24 web editor James Roberts examines the latest numbers. 

February saw a second consecutive month of growth for the buoyant Spanish new-car market. In total, 97,082 new vehicles took to the country’s roads, 6,755 more than 12 months prior. This ensured a 7.5% year-on-year increase, according to the latest ANFAC data.

With only December 2025 blotting an unbroken streak of year-on-year gains for Spain’s new-car market, February resumed a familiar trend. Industry body ANFAC highlighted that all channels achieved growth in the month, particularly the rental sector, which saw a 22.6% uptick.

‘After a hesitant start in January, February is once again a positive month for vehicle sales,’ stated Félix García, director of communication and marketing at ANFAC.‘Last month, the rental car channel was the one that grew the most, accounting for almost one in five sales of passenger cars. It is a logical increase to renew the fleet for the Easter period. Without these sales, the growth of individuals and companies is flatter compared to February 2025.’

This ‘good pace,’ as highlighted by ANFAC, prevailed when assessing the first two months of 2026. Combined January and February totals amounted to 170,185 passenger cars. This ensured a unit upswing of 7,542 compared with the same period in 2025, a healthy 4.6% boost.

Hybrids remain top new-car choice

Hybrids, made up of both full and mild hybrid powertrains, remained the top seller in February. In total, 46,592 new hybrids joined Spain’s car parc in the month, according to ANFAC.

This robust total returned a 17.1% year-on-year increase and a 48% market share. This was just 0.6 percentage points (pp) down on January’s record, suggesting hybrid popularity is not ebbing. It was even up by 3.9pp year on year.

Spanning the opening two months of 2026, hybrid cars held a dominant 48.3% market share, up 3.7pp year on year. Across January and February, 82,189 new hybrids made their way to customers in Spain.

Spain’s BEV market share issue

Amid this preference for hybrids, ANFAC highlighted that EVs, including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), continue to be a ‘key segment.’ However, is this consistently strong sector in danger of stagnating, especially when it comes to BEV uptake?  

February saw 8,889 new BEVs take to Spain’s roads. This equated to a 45.4% volume increase, carving out a 9.2% market share, up 2.4pp.

After two months of the year, the BEV market share stood at 9%, 2.2pp up year on year. This comes as volumes reached 15,361 units, establishing a 38.1% year-on-year upswing.

One reason for new-BEV buying reticence could be uncertainty. Spain’s relatively successful trend of EV adoption had been enabled by a long-standing incentive framework, the MOVES plan. This was introduced in 2019, funded by the EU’s NextGenerationEU recovery funds, and managed in conjunction with Spain’s regional governments. 

The issue with incentives

The last iteration, MOVES III, came to an end on 31 December 2025. Its replacement, the Auto 2030 Plan (Auto+), announced at the beginning of December, aims to centralise and simplify EV incentives.

It will mobilise up to €400 million in public and private investment between 2026 and 2030 to increase electrification in Spain. It will offer varying discounts on BEVs and PHEVs, spanning direct purchases, leasing and renting arrangements.

The subsidies will be applied retroactively to vehicles purchased since 1 January in Spain. However, the government website has not yet confirmed publication. According to Carwow, Full implementation of the Auto 2030 Plan is not expected until at least May this year. 

In late January, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business proposed amendments to the Auto 2030 Plan, according to La Tribuna. Addressing industry concerns, the change reportedly re-centres the scheme around cars manufactured within the EU. This would make the plan more closely aligned with the system used in France, as reported by electrive.

One result of the amendments could be the discouragement of some models made in China from eligibility. This could bring additional uncertainty into the market. An added complication relates to Chinese carmakers investing in Spanish manufacturing, such as Chery and BYD.

Spain’s need for clarity

‘Although the Auto+ plan has already been announced, and there are brands that have committed to bringing forward the discounts, there is no doubt that the official publication of clear and agile regulatory bases is essential to increase confidence,’ stated Tania Puche, GANVAM’s director of communication.

Raúl Morales, communications director of FACONAUTO, added: ‘For another month, electrification has driven the market, once again exceeding 20% ​​market share in new registrations. This is partly due to the announcement of the retroactive application of the Auto+ Plan, which provides aid to electric vehicles.

‘What we need now is for the regulatory framework for this plan to be published as soon as possible, so that buyers continue to have certainty and electrification can continue to increase its registration numbers,’ he continued.

Whatever the outcome, industry bodies are urging further clarity around electrification uptake measures to boost sales in the country.

‘It is urgent to reactivate the tax deduction in personal income tax for the purchase of electric vehicles and the bonus for the installation of charging points, measures that have been overturned in congress for the second time in two months,’ Puche stated.

PHEVs still proving popular

As BEV uptake looks to push through to new heights, PHEV popularity has helped lift Spain’s overall plug-in sector.

Since a notable triple-digit percentage volume surge in May 2025, the powertrain has continued to sell well. In February, 12,092 new PHEVs left forecourts in Spain, equating to a 75.2% year-on-year increase.

Across the first two months of this year, PHEVs have seen 20,832 registrations and a 71.6% volume lift. This has ensured a 12.2% market share, up 4.7pp year on year. This strong start to 2026 and the enduring appeal of the powertrain have boosted overall plug-in deliveries.

Spanning January and February, combined BEV and PHEV registrations reached 36,193 units. This marked a significant year-on-year climb of 55.6%. This also brought some meaningful market share capture, with the powertrains accounting for 21.3% of overall registrations, up 7.2pp.

The combination of electrified registrations, including hybrids, BEVs and PHEVs, took the dominant slice of the Spanish new-car market. Across the opening two months of 2026, a total of 118,382 new electrified vehicles were registered in the country. This 23.7% upswing ensured a market share of 69.6%, a new high, and a 10.7pp increase.

Petrol remains a key player

With many headlines surrounding EV volume growth, it is easy to ignore the prevailing appeal of petrol within Spain.

At first glance, sales have taken a year-on-year nosedive. Fewer new petrol-powered options are available as the industry moves towards net-zero. However, when it comes to market share, the fuel type is clinging on in Spain.

In February, 22,534 new petrol vehicles reached customers, a 19.5% year-on-year dip. Although this continued the trend of double-digit monthly declines, the reality is more nuanced.

Combining January and February’s new-car registration totals, petrol accounted for 23% of the market, with 39,067 registrations. Although volumes were down 20.8% year on year, the fuel type commanded the second-highest market share after hybrids. Petrol was 14pp higher than BEVs, and 10.8pp above PHEVs.

While petrol retained influence in Spain’s new-car market, diesel continued its descent. The fuel type saw just 7,226 new vehicles registered across January and February. This underlined a significant 28.6% year-on-year drop and a meagre 4.2% market share, down 2pp.

Total internal-combustion engine (ICE) new-vehicle registrations, including petrol and diesel, totalled 46,293 in January and February. This provided a 27.2% market share, down 9.3pp year on year, but still 5.9pp above EVs. One of the big questions now is whether plug-in sales will overtake ICE volumes in Spain this year.