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How have Europe’s big-five new-car markets fared in the first quarter of 2026? Which country led the way? How are the different powertrain types performing? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry explores the results in the Automotive Update podcast. In this episode, Autovista24 reviews the performances of Europe’s ‘big-five’ new-car markets. Spanning Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain, which countries saw registration improvements, and which ones faced declines? Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music. Mixed quarter for German new-car market Germany’s new-car market, the biggest in Europe, had a mixed first quarter. Deliveries improved by 5.2%, according to the KBA. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded significant year-on-year growth from January to March, accounting for 22.8% of overall registrations. This was higher than petrol’s market share. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) posted a 19.3% rise compared to the first quarter of 2025. Hybrid volumes, including mild and full versions, took a dominant 29.9% market share. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel volumes dropped year on year between January and March. UK new-car market growth In the UK, registrations increased by 5.9% year on year in the first quarter, according to the SMMT. BEV registrations in the country grew by 14.5% year on year between January and March. The technology made up 22.4% of all volumes. PHEVs enjoyed a surge in sales, while full hybrids recorded modest growth. Petrol deliveries, including mild hybrid sales, fell by 3.5% but still held a dominant market share in the first quarter. Diesel saw a 9.8% fall in volumes year on year. BEVs provide hope in France France’s new-car market was down by 2.1% between January and March, according to AAA Data. BEVs enjoyed a 50.4% delivery increase in the first quarter. BEVs held a 27.9% market share between January and March, the highest out of Europe’s big five new-car markets. Hybrid registrations, including full and mild versions, achieved a dominant 47.3% market share. Conversely, PHEVs recorded eight fewer registrations in the first quarter of 2026. Petrol suffered a 40.3% year-on-year delivery decline between January and March. In a similar vein, diesel volumes dropped by 44.5%. Italy’s new-car market shows strength Italy’s new-car market recorded a 9.2% year-on-year improvement in the first quarter, according to ANFIA. It was the best-performing market, in terms of growth, in the European big five. Plug-in hybrids were the country’s best-performing powertrain in terms of percentage growth. Volumes rose by 110.1% between January and March compared to the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, BEV achieved a 65.7% increase year on year. Hybrids continued to dominate the market. They made up over half of deliveries in the first quarter, according to Autovista24 calculations. Petrol volumes fell by 18.6% year on year. Diesel registrations plummeted 23.6% between January and March. PHEV volumes soar in Spain In Spain, new-car registrations climbed by 7.6% in the first quarter, according to ANFAC. PHEVs were the standout performer in the country. Deliveries soared 74% compared to the first quarter of 2025, based on Autovista24 analysis. The technology proved more popular than BEVs. Volumes of all-electric models improved by 41.6%. Hybrids, including full and mild versions, led the market. The technology took a 48% share between January and March, with deliveries increasing by 18.6% year on year. On the other hand, petrol and diesel registrations fell in the first quarter.

The new-car market in Italy remains on a high, as March ended the first quarter with another positive performance. But does split authority-decision making jeopardise the country’s electric vehicle (EV) market? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the figures. Following a difficult 2025, Italy’s new-car market has seen a strong first quarter of 2026. The period was rounded off by a 7.6% year-on-year increase in volumes during March. This is according to the latest data from industry body ANFIA. In total, 185,257 passenger cars were registered in the month. As March is traditionally a high-volume period for new-car deliveries in Italy, growth is important. The figures were the best for the third month of the year since 2019. An extra 13,028 units took to Italy’s roads compared with March 2025, according to Autovista24 calculations. In the first quarter, 484,577 new cars made their way to customers in Italy, an increase of 9.2%. Following a rollercoaster 2025, the strong start to this year will be encouraging for carmakers in the country. Italy embraces the BEV Italy’s new-car market was driven by EV registrations. Without deliveries of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), registrations would have fallen by 1.1% in March. BEVs registrations improved by 72.1% last month, with 16,121 units delivered. This equated to an additional 6,754 units compared to one year ago. The increase helped the powertrain overtake PHEVs in terms of volume and share for the first time this year. By the end of the month, BEVs held an 8.7% share of total registrations, an increase of 3.3 percentage points (pp). After three months of 2026, the BEV market was up 65.7% compared to the first quarter of 2025. In total, 38,084 units were delivered, translating to a market share of 7.9%, up 2.7pp year on year. The BEV market in Italy struggled in previous years. While numbers rose, their share of registrations was low. Although the current hold of the overall market is below that of Germany, the UK and France, it has expanded rapidly in 2026. Italy’s BEV performance this year also matches Spain’s surge in 2025. It was another country that held a low all-electric share compared to other major European new-car markets before volumes improved. Surging BEV volumes in Italy can be partially attributed to the implementation of incentives in the country. All the subsidies were claimed for within a day of their announcement. However, industry body UNRAE highlighted what it sees as issues with the scheme. Struggles ahead for EVs? ‘Urgent action is needed on the issue of incentives: the dealer network has advanced these funds out of its own pocket, exposing itself to liabilities running into millions of euros and incurring significant financial costs,’ commented Roberto Pietrantonio, president of UNRAE. ‘It is therefore essential to guarantee certain and rapid payment times, prioritising correctly processed applications, in order to safeguard the stability of the supply chain and strengthen the credibility of public measures,’ he continued. There may be other obstacles in the path of electrification. From 1 July, BEVs and hydrogen vehicles will need to pay an annual charge to enter Rome’s congestion-control zone. While the cost of €1,000 is around half that for internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, it still represents an additional cost for drivers. ‘This measure is difficult to comprehend in a country where the proportion of electric cars is still significantly lower than in the main European markets, where any revisions to incentives have only been made in the face of much higher levels of adoption,’ highlighted Pietrantonio. The fear is that localised interventions without wider government alignment, risk creating uncertainty for buyers. Fragmented measures, such as congestion charging, could end up slowing the transition to cleaner mobility, Pietrantonio warned. PHEVs remain popular While BEVs saw higher volumes than PHEVs, the latter experienced greater growth in March. With 15,805 deliveries, numbers were up by 100.7%. Market share also jumped, by 3.9pp, to 8.5% in the month. Within the first quarter of the year, PHEVs recorded a rise of 110.1%. With triple-digit growth in each month of the year so far, this amounts to 40,052 units, an improvement of 20,990 deliveries. The powertrain remained ahead of BEVs in the cumulative chart, with a share of 8.3%. This is a rise from the 4.3% PHEVs recorded during the first three months of 2025. UNRAE attributes this popularity to an increase in models being offered and corporate fringe benefits. The technology is forging ahead and helping to establish EVs in the marketplace. Combining BEV and PHEV registrations, EVs saw 31,926 deliveries in March, a rise of 85.2%, according to Autovista24 calculations. This gave the powertrain group a 17.2% market share, up by 7.2pp year on year. In the first quarter, 78,136 EV models made their way to customers, an increase of 85.8%. This equated to a 16.1% market share, up by 6.6pp compared to the first three months of 2025. Italy’s hybrid domination continues Hybrids, made up of full and mild versions, were the leading technology in Italy’s new-car market during March. As buyers and carmakers alike move away from petrol and diesel, they are increasingly turning to hybrid models. In the month, 93,241 units were delivered, a rise of 20.2%. According to Autovista24 calculations, this was an improvement of 15,674 units, 1,748 models more than the combined loss of ICE units. This meant that hybrids dominated the market in the month. The powertrain group secured 50.3% of total registrations, up by 5.3pp compared to the same period last year. The powertrain also dominated in the first quarter of 2026. With 249,430 units delivered, it was the only technology to break into six-digit figures. It ended the three-month period with a 51.5% market share, up 6.8pp. Its nearest challenger, petrol, was 31.7pp behind. Adding hybrids to EV registrations, the electrified powertrain group was dominant in March. Electrified models took a 67.6% share of all deliveries, up 12.6pp year on year. In total, 125,167 units took to Italian roads, a 32% rise. Between January and March, the electrified sector held a similar 67.6% share of the market. This was a 13.5pp rise, with volumes reaching 327,566 units. Diesel plunge continues in Italy Petrol and diesel powertrains continued their downward trend in Italy. The powertrain group suffered a combined drop of 21.7%, as 50,203 units were registered in the month. The ICE market was responsible for 27.1% of the country’s total, a drop of 10.1pp compared to March 2025. Diesel cars have proven more popular in Italy than in the other big five European markets. But with 12,747 registrations in March, their volumes fell 29.6% year on year. The powertrain held a 6.9% share, down 3.6pp on 12 months prior. Meanwhile, petrol registrations fell by 18.6%. The fuel type remained the second-biggest seller in Italy during the month. However, its 37,456-unit total was only good enough for a 20.2% market share. This was a fall of 6.5pp year on year. In the first quarter of 2026, ICE deliveries fell by 19.9%, with just 130,135 registrations. The group held 26.9% of the market, down 9.7pp. Broken down, diesel managed 34,089 deliveries, equating to a 23.6% decline. This gave the powertrain a 7% market share, down 3.1pp year on year. Petrol recorded 96,046 registrations in the three-month period, an 18.6% drop. This was good enough for a 19.8% hold of the country’s total, falling 6.8pp compared to the first quarter of 2025. Stellantis dominates the market According to ANFIA figures, Stellantis and the Renault-Nissan Alliance led the country’s new-car market in March. Stellantis celebrated the success of the Fiat Panda in its home market. It saw 11,117 registrations, more than double the Jeep Avenger in second. The model managed 5,085 deliveries and ended March just 63 units ahead of the Leapmotor T03 in third. The Fiat Grande Panda took fourth, while the Citroen C3 was sixth. Between the two sat the Dacia Sandero in fifth, leading a slew of models from the Renault-Nissan Alliance. In seventh was the Renault Clio, with the Nissan Qashqai following, and the Dacia Duster taking ninth. Rounding out the top 10 was the Toyota Aygo X. The result means the Fiat Panda extended its lead after the first quarter, with 37,010 registrations. The Jeep Avenger was the second-best-selling model in Italy, with 15,808 deliveries. Third was the Fiat Grande Panda, with 13,180 units.

After a difficult start to the year, the French new-car market returned to growth in spectacular fashion during March. Soaring battery-electric vehicle (BEV) volumes made this possible, but why did the technology see a significant increase? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, explores the figures. The new-car market in France returned to growth in March, marking the country’s first improvement since October 2025. According to the PFA, 173,634 units were registered in the month, an increase of 12.9% year on year. In part, the rise was boosted by an extra working day compared to March 2025. New-car purchases from individuals represented 46% of total volumes last month, with a 22% delivery increase, according to AAA Data. Within this sales channel, long-term leasing rose sharply. Deliveries to fleets suffered a 2% decline during March, while registrations associated with short-term rental companies climbed 19%. Despite this double-digit growth, the French new-car market recorded a 2.1% decline in the first quarter of 2026. According to AAA Data, 401,556 deliveries took place during this period, a loss of 8,528 units year on year. Similar to many major European new-car markets, the powertrain mix continues to shift towards electrification in France. BEV deliveries have soared, while hybrids are seeing more marginal year-on-year gains. But unlike the other big five markets, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) volumes have remained stagnant. This comes as both petrol and diesel registrations fell significantly. BEV growth provides lifeline BEV registrations soared 68.8% in March to 49,406 units, according to Autovista24 analysis. This growth provided a lifeline for the French new-car market. Without it, overall registrations would have fallen by 0.3% year on year. The figure presented the powertrain with a 28.5% share of overall new-car volumes, up 9.5 percentage points (pp) year on year. This was the largest market share of any in Europe’s big five automotive markets, reflecting a wider first-quarter trend. Behind the technology’s surging sales, many factors are having a positive impact on delivery volumes. ‘France’s strong increase in BEV registrations during March was mainly driven by the social leasing scheme. While the program reopened in late 2025, people who registered for the scheme are now taking delivery of their cars,’ outlined Ludovic Percier, senior residual value analyst for France. The scheme allows lower-income households to access BEVs through long-term rental contracts. These are provided at significantly reduced monthly costs, supported by the state. Monthly rental costs cannot exceed €200 excluding options, accessories and services. Some offers reach less than €140 per month. Factors assisting BEV demand ‘Other short and long-term factors have assisted demand. Since February 2025, BEVs have profited from a notable change to company-car taxation,’ Percier continued. ‘The technology faced a less severe increase in benefit-in-kind rates than any other powertrain. This makes them significantly more favourable compared to internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, strengthening their appeal in the fleet market. ‘Furthermore, rising fuel prices have improved the comparative total cost of ownership of BEVs since March. However, this effect is minimal and is more linked to the used-car market,’ he commented. AAA Data also pointed towards the country’s purchase and leasing incentives as a factor that has helped boost BEV volumes. Known as the ‘electric passenger vehicle boost’, the subsidy provides funds of between €3,500 and €5,700 when buying an electric vehicle (EV). Additional bonuses are available for vehicles where the battery is manufactured in Europe. At the start of 2026, the French government also raised the income ceilings defining the categories of modest households. This move means more families are eligible for higher grant levels. The industry body also noted that discounts offered by some manufacturers are helping BEV demand. From January to March, BEVs took a 27.9% share of overall new-car registrations. This was up from 18.2% during the same period of 2025. The technology enjoyed a 50.4% delivery increase to 112,083 units, according to AAA Data. Stagnant PHEVs Conversely, PHEVs faced a 2.2% delivery decline in March to 8,108 units, according to Autovista24 analysis. The powertrain took a 4.7% market share last month, down by 0.7pp year on year. PHEV volumes during the first quarter of 2026 were stagnant. Just eight fewer registrations were recorded compared to the same period last year, according to AAA Data. A total of 19,584 units ensured a 4.9% share, up 0.1pp. Combining BEV and PHEV figures, the EV market in France had a positive start to the year. Volumes improved by 53.2% in March, with its share increasing by 8.7pp to 33.1%. A 39.9% year-on-year improvement was seen in the first quarter, with 131,667 registrations. This equated to a 32.8% share, up from 22.9%. No growth in sight for ICE Internal-combustion engines, including petrol and diesel-powered models, had a weak March, suffering a 25.4% slump in deliveries year on year. According to Autovista24 analysis, the powertrain group accounted for 16.9% of new-car volumes in the month, down 8.7pp. Diesel performed particularly poorly, with a 31.2% drop to 4,448 units. This translated to a 2.6% market share, down from 4.2%. This made it the least popular powertrain in the new-car market, behind even the ‘others’ category. This powertrain group includes liquefied petroleum gas models, natural gas vehicles and super-ethanol cars. Petrol endured a 24.2% drop in March to 24,908 registrations. The fuel type made up 14.3% of overall volumes, down 7.1pp year on year. This means its market share was roughly half that of BEVs. In March 2025, petrol was ahead of the all-electric technology by 2.4pp. From January to March, deliveries of ICE-powered cars fell by 41%. The powertrain grouping recorded 68,507 registrations, with its hold on the market loosening from 28.3% to 17.1%. Broken down, diesel deliveries declined by 44.5% year on year, according to Autovista24 analysis. Its 10,067-unit total translated to a 2.5% market share, down 1.9pp. Meanwhile, petrol posted a 40.3% slump to 58,440 registrations. The fuel type represented 14.6% of total new-car volumes, down from 23.9%. The shares of both petrol and diesel models were the lowest among the major EU markets in the first quarter. This may be a factor in France’s decline across the three-month period. Hybrid’s double-digit growth Hybrids, including full and mild versions, enjoyed a double-digit delivery improvement in March. The powertrain posted 80,709 registrations in the month, increasing by 14.2% year on year. This enabled a dominant 46.5% market share, up 0.6pp, according to Autovista24 analysis. Hybrids accounted for 47.3% of the new-car market in the first quarter, an increase of 2.4pp from the same period in 2025. However, its growth was more marginal, up 3.1% to 189,904 units, according to AAA Data. Adding hybrids to the EV total, the electrified market recorded strong results in both March and the first quarter. Deliveries grew by 27.7% last month, as the powertrain group’s share rose from 70.3% to 79.6%. In the first quarter, volumes increased by 15.5%, while the group’s share sat at 80.1%, up 12.2pp year on year. The ‘others’ category did not enjoy the same success as electrified models. The powertrain group suffered a 3.7% drop in volumes to 6,054 units in March, according to Autovista24 analysis. Its share subsequently fell from 4.1% to 3.5%. Its first quarter result was more severe, as volumes slumped by 26.6% to 11,478 units. The category captured 2.9% of the new-car market in this period, down 0.9pp year on year.

Electrified and internal-combustion engine (ICE) powertrains split the UK new-car market after the first quarter of the year. But after another month of improvement, is the country’s current growth sustainable? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the market. The UK’s new-car market posted its strongest March result since 2019, as the country’s plate-change period helped boost overall volumes. According to the latest data from the SMMT, 380,627 new cars made their way to customers last month. This was an increase of 6.6% compared to 2025, equating to an extra 23,524 units, according to Autovista24 analysis. March is one of two important months for the UK market, the other being September. During these times, new registration plates are released, making deliveries more attractive. In March, new ‘26’ plates were released, with ‘76’ plates due in September. In 2025, March was the strongest month of the year, accounting for 17.7% of the annual registrations total. With the SMMT highlighting that current geopolitical changes are likely to impact the market, the same pattern may occur in 2026. Across the first quarter of the year, UK registrations are up by 5.9%, with 614,854 units delivered to customers. This is an improvement of 34,352 passenger cars, according to Autovista24 calculations. Record results in the UK March was the best month on record for electrified vehicles, according to the SMMT. This category includes full hybrids (HEVs), battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). A total of 196,059 units were delivered in the month, a 23.1% increase year on year. Electrified volumes were also above ICE figures for the first time this year. The UK reports its ICE figures differently from other markets. Mild-hybrid powertrains are merged with their respective petrol and diesel counterparts, rather than being included with HEV figures. The electrified market overtook the petrol and diesel group for the first time in September last year. However, it slipped behind once again at the start of 2026. March’s strong result may be the start of a period of dominance for the powertrain group. After three months of the year, electrified passenger cars had overtaken ICE, thanks to their performance in March. With 307,652 registrations, the group was just 450 units ahead of the combined petrol and diesel performance. This was enough for a 50% market share. BEVs continue to improve BEVs were the second-best-selling powertrain type in the UK last month. With 86,120 deliveries, they made up 22.6% of the market. The figure was a record total for all-electric registrations, with volumes increasing 24.2% compared to March 2025. March also saw the first year-on-year improvement in BEV market share of 2026. The technology’s hold rose by 3.2 percentage points (pp) to 22.6%. However, this was some way behind the required share in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This is emphasised further by the powertrain’s performance in the first quarter of the year. Deliveries have improved by 14.5%, with 137,614 units taking to the road. However, the market share of 22.4%, while 1.7pp higher year-on-year, is 10.6pp below the mandated target. For 2026, vehicle manufacturers are required to ensure that 33% of their passenger cars registered in the UK are zero-emission models. Yet, the overall market has failed to meet the target in the first two years of the mandate. Calls for review into UK transition At the recent SMMT Electrified conference, chief executive Mike Hawes highlighted how the market had changed since the ZEV mandate was first proposed. At the start of 2026, battery costs were more than 30% higher than expected, according to the SMMT. Furthermore, the industry body said that industrial energy prices are around 80% above 2021 levels. Additionally, it also noted how public charging can cost over 140% more than five years ago.  Moreover, the SMMT has also highlighted that the current geopolitical situation, which is impacting oil prices, may spark interest in electric vehicles (EVs). Yet with a risk of higher energy prices and supply-chain costs, the increased cost of living could undermine consumer confidence. These geopolitical changes have added urgency to the automotive market’s calls for a rapid review of the ZEV transition. The SMMT has pointed to other markets, which have amended their plans to reflect current market realities. While the UK government holds firm, however, carmakers are having to invest heavily in both development and discounting to meet ZEV mandate targets. ‘Delays to a review of the UK transition will put the country in an uncompetitive position, undermining consumer choice, investment and, ultimately, the pace of decarbonisation,’ the industry body said in a statement. PHEV popularity grows While the debate about the electric transition continues, the UK’s PHEV market has been gathering strength. March saw the powertrain continue its run of strong results, with a 46.9% improvement year on year. This equated to 15,856 more units, based on Autovista24 analysis. In total, 49,671 units made it to customers in the month, giving the technology a 13% market share. This is up by 3.5pp compared to a year prior. The PHEV market has been boosted by the popularity of the Jaecoo 7, which hit the country’s market in February 2025. The Chinese brand has been building momentum, and was the most popular model in March. With 10,064 units registered in the plate-change month, it accounted for 20.3% of total PHEV deliveries. In the first quarter, PHEVs have seen volumes increase by 46.5% compared to the same period in 2025. With 78,666 units, this offered the powertrain a 12.8% slice of the market, up 3.6pp. Again, the Jaecoo 7 has helped this growth, with 19.8% of the PHEV market. The SUV held second in the best-seller table, behind the Ford Puma. Combining PHEV and BEV figures, the EV market saw a 31.7% rise in March, with 135,791 units. This was enough for a 35.7% market share, a rise of 6.8pp year on year. After three months, EV figures had improved by 24.4%, with 216,280 deliveries. The powertrain group took a 35.2% hold of total registrations. ICE remains strong While electrified models continue to see volume increases, deliveries of petrol and diesel cars suffered in monthly registration figures. Despite this, petrol remained the dominant force in the UK market during March. The fuel type saw 165,997 units delivered to customers, a drop of 6.1% compared to the same month last year. Having seen a rare increase in volumes during February, this result was a return to a regular trend of decline. Yet the powertrain still held 43.6% of the market. While this was a drop of 5.9pp, petrol remained 21pp ahead of its nearest challenger, BEVs. Registrations of petrol-powered cars declined by 3.5% in the first quarter, with 276,689 units. Despite this, the technology still held 45% of the market, a 4.4pp drop. Diesel popularity continued to wane, with March seeing figures fall by 11.4% to 18,571 units. This was only good enough for a 4.9% share of the market, down from the 5.9% recorded a year prior. Between January and March, diesel deliveries totalled 30,513 units, down 9.8%, equating to a share of just 5%. Combining the powertrains, ICE registrations dropped 6.7% in the month with 184,568 units. This was good enough for a 48.5% share of total deliveries, falling behind the electrified market for the first time in 2026. This means that after the first quarter, both ICE and electrified groups shared a 50% hold of the UK new-car market. With 307,202 registrations, the combined petrol and diesel grouping suffered a 4.2% delivery decline year-on-year. HEV pulls ahead in UK hybrid race HEVs continued to be the third-best powertrain in the UK during March. Its 60,268 registrations were enough for a 7.3% increase compared to the same period last year. However, its 15.8% market share was up just 0.1pp compared to March 2025. After the first quarter, the powertrain has seen a 6.2% rise in volumes, with 91,372 deliveries. This was good enough for a 14.9% slice of overall new-car registrations. Yet with stronger growth for PHEVs and BEVs, the powertrain’s market share only rose by 0.1pp year on year. The unit gap between HEVs and PHEVs has risen, thanks to the better volume total in March for full hybrids. But with plug-in hybrids increasing in popularity, the technology could close the gap in the coming months.