EU new-car registrations show a mixed picture through October 2025, with electrified vehicles continuing to grow but overall volumes still lagging far behind pre-pandemic levels, according to data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
Battery-electric cars expanded their market share to 16.4% year-to-date, up from 13.2% a year earlier, though analysts say the rate remains insufficient to meet the region’s longer-term transition goals. Hybrid-electric vehicles remained the most popular electrified option among buyers, while plug-in hybrids continued to gain traction.
Across the bloc, hybrid-electric cars accounted for 34.6% of total registrations, strengthening their position as the top powertrain choice for EU consumers. Meanwhile, the combined share of petrol and diesel models fell to 36.6%, down from 46.3% in the same period of 2024, underscoring the ongoing decline of traditional combustion engines as vehicle electrification accelerates.
Battery-electric registrations reached 1,473,447 units in the first ten months of the year, with the four largest EU markets—Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France—collectively delivering 62% of total volume. All four posted year-on-year growth, led by Germany’s strong double-digit increase. Hybrid-electric registrations rose to 3,109,362 units, supported by sustained demand in Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
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Plug-in hybrid models also recorded substantial gains, with registrations climbing to 819,201 units. Key markets such as Spain, Italy and Germany posted sharp year-on-year increases, lifting the plug-in hybrid share to 9.1%, compared with 7% a year earlier. Year-on-year comparisons for October 2025 showed battery-electric registrations rising 38.6%, hybrid-electric up 9.4%, and plug-in hybrids jumping 43.2%.
Traditional combustion-engine vehicles continued to contract across the bloc. Petrol registrations declined by 18.3% to 2,459,151 units, with all major markets experiencing drops—most notably France. Diesel models saw an even steeper contraction, falling 24.5% to secure just 9.2% of the market. Year-on-year, October petrol and diesel registrations fell 14.3% and 21.9% respectively, further reinforcing the shift toward electrified alternatives.