European car sales dip slightly in March: ACEA
Published: 03:04 PM,Apr 24,2025 | EDITED : 07:04 PM,Apr 24,2025
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Brussels (dpa-AFX): New car sales in Europe edged down slightly in March as automakers continued to face tough global economic conditions, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said on Thursday.
Car registrations across the region fell 0.2 percent year-on-year, easing from a sharper drop of 3.4 percent recorded in February.
France posted the steepest decline among major markets, with sales plunging 14.5 percent, while Germany saw a decrease of 3.9 percent. In contrast, Spain and Italy reported positive growth in March, with sales in Spain surging 23.2 percent and Italy up 6.3 percent.
Electric vehicles continued to gain ground. Battery-electric car sales rose by 17.1 percent, while hybrid-electric vehicles climbed 23.9 percent. Plug-in hybrid electric cars also posted gains, rising 12.4 percent.
Sales of petrol-powered vehicles dropped 20.7 percent in March, while diesel car sales tumbled 25.5 percent.
Over the first quarter, new EU car registrations were down 1.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 15.2 percent of the EU market in the first three months of the year, up from 12 percent in the first quarter of 2024, as sales jumped 23.9 percent. Hybrid-electric vehicles made up 35.5 percent of the market, with sales rising 20.7 percent.
Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars dropped to 38.3 percent, down from 48.3 percent a year earlier.
Car registrations across the region fell 0.2 percent year-on-year, easing from a sharper drop of 3.4 percent recorded in February.
France posted the steepest decline among major markets, with sales plunging 14.5 percent, while Germany saw a decrease of 3.9 percent. In contrast, Spain and Italy reported positive growth in March, with sales in Spain surging 23.2 percent and Italy up 6.3 percent.
Electric vehicles continued to gain ground. Battery-electric car sales rose by 17.1 percent, while hybrid-electric vehicles climbed 23.9 percent. Plug-in hybrid electric cars also posted gains, rising 12.4 percent.
Sales of petrol-powered vehicles dropped 20.7 percent in March, while diesel car sales tumbled 25.5 percent.
Over the first quarter, new EU car registrations were down 1.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 15.2 percent of the EU market in the first three months of the year, up from 12 percent in the first quarter of 2024, as sales jumped 23.9 percent. Hybrid-electric vehicles made up 35.5 percent of the market, with sales rising 20.7 percent.
Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars dropped to 38.3 percent, down from 48.3 percent a year earlier.