EV Sales Surpass Petrol Cars in EU for First Time
In December 2025, electric vehicle (EV) sales surpassed those of petrol cars in the European Union (EU) for the first time. This significant milestone comes from data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
Key Sales Figures
Registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) peaked at 217,898 units, marking a 51% increase from December 2024. In contrast, petrol car registrations dropped by 19%, falling to 216,492 from 267,834.
Market Share Insights
Throughout 2025, EVs held 17.4% of the EU car market, up from 13.6% the previous year. A total of 1,880,370 new BEVs were registered, with four major markets accounting for 62% of these sales:
- Germany: +43.2%
- Netherlands: +18.1%
- Belgium: +12.6%
- France: +12.5%
Decline in Petrol Car Registrations
Petrol cars witnessed an 18.7% decline across Europe in 2025. France experienced the largest drop at 32%, followed by Germany (-21.6%), Italy (-18.2%), and Spain (-16%). In total, 2,880,298 new petrol vehicles were registered, reducing its market share from 33.3% in December 2024 to 26.6% in December 2025.
Hybrid Vehicles Still Dominant
Despite the growth of EVs, hybrid vehicles remain the largest segment in the EU market. Sales for hybrids increased by 5.8%, rising from 307,001 in December 2024 to 324,799 in December 2025. However, battery EVs and plug-in hybrids are expanding at a faster rate, with respective sales surging 51% and 36.7%.
Regulatory Changes and Industry Response
This shift in consumer preferences follows the EU’s new automotive package introduced in December, aimed at supporting the transition to clean mobility. This package includes amendments focused on reducing carbon emissions from combustion-engine vehicles by 90% by 2035.
Automakers have expressed concerns regarding these targets, citing competition from Chinese manufacturers and challenges from U.S. tariffs. Stellantis, a key industry player, recently claimed there is no “natural” demand for EVs.
Market Share Among Manufacturers
Volkswagen continued to lead the EU market with 26.7% of new registrations. Other manufacturers that followed included Stellantis, Renault, Hyundai, Toyota, and BMW. Meanwhile, Tesla’s market share fell from 3.5% in December 2024 to 2.2% in December 2025, owing to controversy surrounding its owner, Elon Musk. Conversely, Chinese EV brand BYD saw its market share nearly triple, moving from 0.7% to 1.9%.
