Battery-electric vehicle sales took 17.4% of the European car market share in 2025, still far short of industry expectations, according to Jan. 24 data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
Automakers in Europe are keeping an eye on their share of electrified vehicle sales as they seek to keep up with the European Union’s proposals to lower CO2 emissions. While EU regulators have recently pushed for less stringent requirements, manufacturers can qualify for certain incentives if 25% of their sales by 2025 are from zero-emission vehicles. Industry-wide data shows those targets are not yet within reach for many OEMs.
The market share is “in line with projections for the year, yet still a level that leaves room for growth to stay on track with the transition,” the association said in a press release.
That said, a surge in BEV registrations in the month of December helped lift the sector’s overall annual market share above the 13.6% recorded in 2024.
Meanwhile, the trade association’s figures show that hybrid vehicles lead the market as the most popular propulsion-system choice among European consumers, with plug-in hybrids also consolidating their position in most markets.
Hybrids accounted for 34.5% of the total market in 2025.
Last year, 1,880,370 new BEVs were registered with the four largest growth markets in the EU, which together account for 62% of battery-electric car registrations.
Most growth was seen in Germany, up 43.2%; the Netherlands, rising 18.1%; Belgium, up 12.6%; and France growing 12.5%.
Hybrid car registrations accounted for 3,733,325 sales driven largely by growth in Spain, up 23.1%, France rising 21.6%, Germany, up 8% and Italy with 7.9% growth.
Registrations of PHEVs reached 1,015,887 units during 2025 with impressive growth in markets including Spain, booming by 111.7%; Italy, up 86.6%; and Germany, rising 62.3%. This means PHEVs have taken a market share of 9.4% in the EU, up from 7.2% last year.
Diesel powertrain sales led the slump in ICE registrations, falling 24.2% to an 8.9% share in 2025.
Meanwhile, gasoline powertrains accounted for 2,880,298 new cars registered in 2025, falling to 26.6% of market share from 33.3% a year earlier.
In terms of total vehicle registrations, France experienced the steepest decline with registrations plummeting 32%, followed by Germany, down 21.6%; Italy, down 18.2%; and Spain, 16% fewer sales.
