Spain’s consistent results continue with latest new-car registrations rise

11 May 2026

Spain saw another month of new-car registrations growth in April. However, could there be challenges ahead, despite impressive electric vehicle (EV) figures? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the market.

Spain’s new-car market continued its impressive run into April, with another month of year-on-year improvement.

The latest numbers from industry association ANFAC show that 106,862 units were registered in April 2026. This was an increase of 8.5%, based on Autovista24 calculations of available data.

This meant that after four months of the year, Spain’s new-car market recorded 407,338 registrations. This marked an improvement of 7.8% compared to the same period of 2025. The growth has led to an additional 29,449 units on the country’s roads, according to Autovista24 analysis.

The country has seen a consistent run of growth in 2026. This is more impressive considering the first months of 2025 saw slightly inflated numbers. Storms and severe flooding in the Valencia region at the end of 2024 led to a scheme to replace many vehicles. This created somewhat unnatural market growth. 

Challenges ahead for Spain?

‘April continues the upward trend seen throughout 2026, and we have once again surpassed 100,000 units sold in a month that included Easter holidays,’ commented Félix García, ANFAC’s Director of Communications and Marketing.

‘Geopolitical changes have driven up the price of petrol and, above all, diesel. But this does not yet appear to be a key factor in the shift of customers towards 100% electric vehicles. What is clear, however, is that diesel is dying, given that customers are not considering it when they want to buy a passenger car,’ he continued.

However, there may be some concerns ahead for the Spanish market. Despite its strong start to the year, a slowdown may be on the cards.

Raúl Morales, communications director of Faconauto, added: ‘from our perspective, in April we detected a certain drop in dealership activity, with a smaller order book. This leads us to maintain a cautious position regarding market trends in the coming months.’

BEVs build momentum

The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market saw a leap of 42.3%, according to Autovista24 calculations of data provided by Faconauto. This was thanks to 9,723 registrations in the month.

Despite the improvement, the powertrain was still unable to reach a double-digit monthly market share. It accounted for 9.1% of total sales, a jump of 2.2 percentage points from the same period last year.

Yet with the new Auto Plan+, including its incentives scheme, which is yet to be published, the BEV market is flourishing. Retroactive payments are expected back to 1 January, and this may be influencing purchasing decisions.

‘This progress is significant, but it does not guarantee its continuation, and adoption must continue to be encouraged. To maintain this pace and move closer to our established objectives, it is essential to strengthen consumer support mechanisms. We expect the Auto+ plan to be published soon, with an agile  and accessible design that will build buyer confidence,’ commented José López-Tafall, Director General of ANFAC.

‘Consolidating domestic demand is not only key from an environmental perspective, but also to ensure Spain’s role as an industrial hub for new mobility.’

In the first four months of 2026, BEV deliveries increased by 41.8%, with 36,949 units registered, based on Autovista24 analysis. This was good enough for a 9.1% market share, a jump of 2.2pp year on year.

PHEVs lead the EV market

While BEVs continue to improve, in Spain’s EV market, it is plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that continue to be the most popular choice amongst buyers.

In April, the powertrain saw 13,035 registrations, a year-on-year increase of 42.9%, according to Autovista24 analysis. This was an improvement of 3,913 units compared to April 2025. The result gave PHEVs a 12.2% market share, up 2.9pp.

This means that after four months of the year, 48,775 new PHEVs have been delivered in Spain, a rise of 64.6%. The powertrain made up 12% of all registrations in the period, a rise of 4.2pp.

Combining both BEVs and PHEVs, the EV market grew by 42.6% in April, with 22,758 deliveries. Their market share of 21.3% was up by 5.1pp. It was also just 6.4pp away from that of internal-combustion engine (ICE) models, a gap that has seen small fluctuations throughout the year.

After four months, EVs held 21% of overall deliveries, a rise of 6.3pp year on year. With 85,724 registrations, based on Autovista24 calculations, volumes increased by 53.9%.

Hybrids dominant in Spain

While EVs continue to improve in Spain, the dominant powertrain is the hybrid. Made up of both full and mild-hybrid technologies, it saw year-on-year registrations growth of 23.3% in April. With 50,237 units, hybrids held 47% of the market, a rise of 5.7pp year on year.

The powertrain has firmly established itself as the most popular in Spain, and led petrol by 23pp in the month.

While the technology dominates, it did experience a slow start to the year. However, both March and April saw increases over 20%. This upward trend will help the overall Spanish market should it continue. After four months of 2026, hybrids saw growth of 19.7%, with 194,213 units delivered. The powertrain took a 47.7% share of the market.

Combining hybrids with EVs, the electrified sector saw a 28.8% rise in April, according to Autovista24 analysis. With 72,995 units, it led the market with 68.3% of the overall share. Between January and April, electrified registrations improved by 28.4%, to 279,937 units. This provided a 68.7% hold of the country’s overall volume in the period.

ICE making up the numbers

Once again, both petrol and diesel registrations saw large declines in April. The ICE sector is no longer driving the Spanish market, but is merely contributing to it. The month once again reinforced the strength of the electrified market, which was able to negate the steep losses incurred by the fossil-fuel technologies.

Petrol ended the month with a 19.9% decline in volumes, to 25,618 units. This was only good enough for a 24% market share, a fall of 8.5pp.

After four months, the fuel type saw an 18.6% decline, with 97,505 units registered. At the same point in 2025, petrol had already achieved almost 120,000 deliveries. Its 23.9% share was 7.8pp down year on year.

Meanwhile, diesel saw just 3,973 units delivered in the month, a 28.5% fall compared to April 2025. With just 3.7% of the market, its share fell 1.9pp. Between January and April, the powertrain saw 15,907 registrations, a 27.1% decrease. This left it with a 3.9% share, falling by 1.9pp.

Combined, the ICE market suffered a drop of 21.2% in April, as 29,591 cars made it to Spanish roads. The group’s 27.7% share was a drop of 10.4pp. Four months into the year, ICE suffered a 19.9% decline, as 113,412 units were delivered. Their 27.8% hold of the overall total was down 9.7pp, and was 40.9pp behind the electrified market.

Toyota proves popular in Spain

According to data from Ganvam, Toyota was the leading brand in Spain during April. With 8,519 units delivered, volumes increased by 2.8%. The Japanese marque was helped by its Corolla model, which saw 2,511 registrations, while the Yaris Cross saw 1,725 units make their way to the country’s roads.

Next came Spain’s domestic brand, SEAT. With 6,895 registrations, it saw a 23.4% jump in volumes year on year. This was helped by the SEAT Ibiza taking second in the monthly models table, with 2,729 units. The Arona also contributed 2,251 deliveries to this total.

The third best-selling brand in Spain went to Volkswagen (VW). With 6,703 units, it saw an 8.3% increase compared to the same point in 2025. However, only the VW T-Roc made the country’s top 10 models list, with 1,715 units.

Fourth went to Peugeot, with 6,440 registrations in the month, and increase of 18.3%. Both the 2008 and 208 proved popular in the country, with 2,594 and 2,390 deliveries respectively.

Renault took fifth spot, despite volumes declining 10.5% year on year. With 6,108 units delivered, it failed to place a single model in the top 10, according to Faconauto data.