New car registrations in the European Union increased by 10% year-on-year in September, still supported by hybrids, bringing market growth to 0.9% in the first nine months of 2025, according to figures published on Tuesday, October 28, by the ACEA manufacturers association. In September alone, some 888,700 new vehicles were sold in the 27 EU countries, 10% more than in September 2024.
This is the third consecutive month of increase, after the sharp drop registered in June. The increase is especially significant in Germany (+38.3%), Belgium (+12.4%) and the Netherlands (+3.9%). Sales fell slightly in France (-0.2%), but recovered only in the month of September (+11.2%).
Slight rebound in Stellantis
The Volkswagen Group consolidates itself as the leading European manufacturer, with a total market share of 27.5% (compared to 26.5% the previous year) and 241,368 vehicles sold (+11%). In contrast, Stellantis only represents 15.8% of the new vehicle market in nine months, compared to 17.2% a year earlier. Its sales have continued to fall since the beginning of the year, although a rebound was seen in September, thanks to Citroën and Fiat.
Renault Group sales registered an increase of 14.4% in September in one year (+27.6% only for the Dacia brand), up to 100,817 vehicles, and of 6.6% in nine months (+6.9% for the Renault brand), up to some 915,000 new cars, or 11.4% of the market, compared to 10.7% at the end of September 2024. For its part, Tesla continues to fall (-18.6% in the month and -38.7% in nine months, up to around 111,000 vehicles).
Electricity continues to move too slowly
Hybrid cars remain the most popular among European buyers: they account for 34.7% of total sales in the period from January to September. Nearly 2.8 million new hybrid vehicles were sold (+16.4% compared to the same period in 2024) and nearly 723,000 plug-in hybrids (+31.1%). Electric cars see their share grow, up to 16.1% of sales during the period, compared to 13.1% at the end of September 2024. A percentage, however, “still lower than the pace currently necessary for the transition,” says the association of European manufacturers.
Last week, the ACEA again called for a “pragmatic recalibration” of European regulations, which provide for a ban on sales of new thermal and hybrid cars after 2035. Sales of electric cars reached 1.3 million units in nine months, or 24% more than in the first nine months of 2024. The share of sales of new cars with gasoline or diesel engines continues to fall, until 37% at the end of September, compared to 46.8% a year earlier.
Source: BFM TV
