EU new-car market boost continues amid underwhelming volumes

23 December 2025

At the end of November, the EU new-car market continued its positive charge. But just how healthy are the foundations of this relative prosperity, and is increased electric vehicle (EV) uptake a cause for celebration? Autovista24 web editor James Roberts investigates.

November saw a fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth for the EU new-car market. Overall, registrations amounted to 887,493 units, a 2.1% increase, according to the latest data from ACEA, based on Autovista24 calculations. Across the 27 member states, 16 witnessed a positive performance.

Monthly growth was propelled by electrified vehicles across the bloc. In particular, hybrids, made up of full and mild-hybrid powertrains, again proved most popular with customers. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel uptake continued their notable month-on-month decline.

Despite the general momentum, overall new-vehicle volumes remain well below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to ACEA.

More broadly, between January and November, 9,860,094 new vehicles joined the EU’s roads. This ensured a year-on-year increase of 1.4%. This continues the market’s turnaround, having been in negative figures across the first eight months of 2025.

New BEV high as 2026 looms

November saw battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) claim the powertrain’s highest monthly market share of 2025.

With 188,730 all-electric cars delivered to customers in the month, this secured a 21.3% market share, up 7.2 percentage point (pp) year-on-year. In all, BEV volumes increased by 57,777 units, compared with 12 months prior, a sizeable 44.1% improvement.

Between January and November, BEV registrations pushed the powertrain to a new market share high of 16.9%. In the period, 1,662,399 new all-electric models joined the EU car parc, a 27% increase with 359,094 extra models added.

Among the 27 EU states, several registered eye-catching BEV improvements. Boosted by long-awaited, but short-lived incentives, Italy’s new-car market received an electrified bump in November. The country saw a 132.5% year-on-year rise, however this came amid wider market stagnation.

The EU’s largest market, Germany, continued to return strong BEV figures. November saw a 58.5% year-on-year increase, helping to ensure a 41.3% rise after 11 months of the year. As well as Italy and Germany, France, and incentive-boosted, Spain enjoyed positive BEV territory between January and November. The countries saw a 9.1% and 86.4% boost respectively.

Of the bloc’s other larger markets, Poland continued to show BEV gains, with another month of triple-digit growth.

According to ACEA data, 4,986 new all-electric vehicles were registered in the country during November. This marked a 322.2% year-on-year increase. After 11 months, Poland’s BEV gains amounted to 140.3%, with an impressive 35,627 vehicles accounted for.

Consistent EU PHEV power

Amid relatively consistent monthly performances, PHEV volumes proved resilient after 11 months of the year. The technology saw a 38.4% rise in November, with 91,699 new models delivered.

In terms of PHEV market share, November continued an established monthly trend in 2025. The powertrain secured 10.3% of EU new-car volumes. This figure has gradually risen from 7.4% in January, underlining a 2.9pp rise.

EU member states with notable PHEV uptake included Spain. Registrations increased 145.8% compared with November 2024. These gains have been echoed across 2025, as PHEV volumes hit 111,305 after 11 months, ensuring a 113% year-on-year improvement for the powertrain.

Italy also managed to achieve a 117.9% upswing in PHEV deliveries in November, compared with 12 months prior. The 8,664-unit total helped secure an 80.6% rise across the first 11 months of the year.

Poland also saw a strong month, with a 117.5% upswing, hinting as a strong domestic picture for EVs.

Further boost needed for EU EV share  

In the wake of European Commission’s plans to enable new internal-combustion engine (ICE) sales beyond 2035, all eyes will be on the EU’s EV market share fortunes in 2026.

After 11 months of 2025, according to ACEA data, combined BEV and PHEV registrations stood at 2,527,122 units. This ensured a 29.5% year-on-year increase in sales. This equated to a 26.1% market share.

While this provided a high watermark for 2025, overall plug-in gains remain underwhelming. Across the first 11 months of the year, the plug-in market share has increased just 3.8pp.

While the BEV market has soared to a 16.3% market share, PHEV volumes command just 9.3% of the EU’s new-car landscape. This is now 0.3% above the ailing demand for diesel, as it overtook the powertrain for the first time in 2025.

ICE not melting fast enough

Similarly, the recent automotive plan, extending the scope for new ICE vehicles could impact combined EU petrol and diesel sales in 2026 and beyond.

In 2025, the trend of ICE decline has been pronounced, however is not as stark as might appear. Between January and November, 3,555,761 new petrol and diesel vehicles took to the EU’s roads. This underlined a 20.2% year-on-year fall.

Compared with the first 11 months of 2024, ICE sales in the EU are down 8.7pp. The dichotomy is that unified petrol and diesel volumes held a significant 36.1% of the EU new-car market. As of November 2025, despite inroads from plug-in demand, the ICE market ended up 10pp ahead.

Notably, November saw the second lowest monthly total of ICE registrations so far this year at 276,568 units. In the month, just five of the 27 EU member states saw petrol sales improve, and only four witnessed diesel demand rise.

Hybrids hold the line

November saw hybrid powertrains remaining the preferred choice in the EU. Overall, 301,819 new models left EU forecourts. This amounted to a modest 4.2% year-on-year increase, and a 34% market share.

Between January and November, 3,408,907 new hybrid vehicles took to EU roads. This ensured a 34.6% increase in volumes year on year and resulted in a 4pp rise.  For the second month in a row, just three EU member states failed to see hybrid adoption increase.

The most notable shift towards the technology occurred in Bulgaria. The country saw a 94% uptick, and a jump from 924 to 1,799 units. Of the larger markets, Portugal stood out, with 46,317 new hybrid deliveries across the first 11 months of the year, returning a 46.7% increase.

Consistently high hybrid sales have been underpinning electrified sales, made up of BEVs, PHEVs and hybrids, in the EU this year. After 11 months of 2025, these combined deliveries stood at 5,984,029 units, commanding 60.7% of the overall EU market.

With the plug-in share standing at 26.3% itself, this is hinting at a need for BEV and PHEV registrations to increase. It also reveals a wider fragility. Without the dominant hybrid registrations, EV powertrains would sit a significant 10pp behind ICE powertrain figures.

With the end of the year in sight, EU new-car market growth is well within reach. However, issues around low volumes and maintaining consistent regional electrification will be key to prosperity in 2026.