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Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have endured a tough start to 2026. Sales of new models fell year on year in January, February, March and April. But how have individual models fared?

This year’s Residual Value Awards honour eight value retention champions measured across 17 European countries. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus celebrates the winners and considers what they reveal about regional used-car markets. Powered by data, analysis and insights from Autovista Group, the results of the 2025 Residual Value Awards have been confirmed. This year’s winners reveal a premium trend across the award categories divided by segment, body and powertrain. Categories of the Residual Value Awards Small Car Small BEV Compact Car Compact SUV Compact and Large BEV Compact and Large BEV SUV Large SUV Large Car The results were determined using forecast trade RVs of cars at 36 months and 60,000km. Data from July to September 2025 was analysed across 17 different European used-car markets. Get an in-depth insight into the methodology behind the awards on Autovista24. ‘Strong residual values (RVs) form when a strong vehicle concept, strategic commitment and brand equity engage in a virtuous circle,’  explained Dr Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist and director of valuations and forecasting. ‘All three are needed to win Autovista Group’s European Residual Value Award, and this year’s winners are a testament to that.’ ‘Being positioned as a premium brand helps if you are looking for a top spot in the ranking. Premium German brands are a safe bet for premium RVs. Conversely, Dacia has proved year after year that a refined, high-value-for-money positioning strikes a chord with consumers,’ he added. ‘But do look beyond the winners, it is worth spending time with the runners-up as well. The race is usually tight, and there are some gems in the line-up that will draw used-car buyers to them,’ Engelskirchen concluded. Small Car category In the fiercely competitive Small Car category, the Mini Cooper reclaimed victory as the value retention champion. The model has long been a strong contender for the award, winning in 2023 and taking second in 2024.   This year, it enjoyed particularly positive results in Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the UK. The Mini Cooper defeated its rivals in the A and B-segments across all body types and powertrains. The car went up against its sibling, the Mini Countryman. It moved up to second from third in 2024 and fifth in 2023, highlighting the trend towards premium positioning. Then came last year’s winner, the Dacia Sandero in third, the same position it took in 2023. ‘The Mini’s enduring success in the used-car market is driven by its iconic, retro-modern design and the premium brand image cultivated by BMW,’ said Christian Schneider, director of valuations at Autovista Group. ‘Its reputation for being fun to drive, combined with a high-quality interior and extensive customisation options, makes it a highly desirable vehicle,’ he highlighted. ‘This strong brand loyalty and aspirational status ensure that demand consistently outstrips supply on the used market. This cements its position as an RV champion,’ Schneider commented. Source: BMW Group Small BEV category Focusing on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) from the A and B-segments, Mini claimed another victory in the 2025 Residual Value Awards. The Mini Aceman took the title in the growing Small BEV category, successfully defending its crown from last year. The all-electric car saw leading results in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Slovakia. It went up against other BEVs in the A and B-segment, with all body types allowed. In another premium victory, Mini also took second place with the all-electric Mini Cooper close behind its sibling. Then the retro-styled Renault 5 E-Tech came in third place this year. ‘The Aceman translates the core appeal of the Mini brand, namely its distinctive style and fun-to-drive character, into an all-electric crossover package,’ said Schneider. ‘It is a fresh and fashionable entry in the premium small BEV market. This allows the Aceman to attract buyers looking for a zero-emission vehicle without compromising on design or brand prestige,’ he added. ‘This powerful combination of brand equity and forward-looking technology secures its excellent RV forecast,’ Schneider commented. Source: BMW Group Compact Car category In the highly competitive Compact Car category, the BMW 1 Series emerged as the winner. Of the 17 countries analysed, the car enjoyed its greatest weighted index results in Italy and the Netherlands. This year’s transformation of the Compact Car category exemplifies the positive trend for premium German models. The award was open to all powertrains in the C-segment, excluding SUVs. The BMW 1 Series ascended from third place in 2024 to take the crown. Meanwhile, its stablemate, the BMW 2 Series, took third. It last appeared in third in the 2023 awards. The Audi A3 held on to second place, which it last took in 2024. ‘As the entry point to the prestigious BMW brand, the 1 Series attracts buyers with its promise of premium quality, sporty driving dynamics, and advanced technology,’ Schneider said. ‘The model’s strong brand equity and reputation for German engineering create demand among used-car buyers looking for a premium hatchback. This desirability translates into robust RVs, allowing it to outperform rivals like the Audi A3 and the BMW 2 Series,’ he added. Source: BMW Group Compact SUV category Defending its title from last year, the Dacia Duster once again topped the bustling Compact SUV category. The model enjoyed a leading performance in Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. While entrants were limited to C-segment SUVs, the award was open to all powertrains. Dacia dominated the category, also securing second with the Dacia Bigster. This demonstrates the staying power of value for money across Europe. The Mercedes-Benz GLA defended its third-place position from 2024. ‘The Duster’s RV strength comes from its unparalleled value-for-money proposition. It offers the practicality and rugged styling of an SUV at an extremely accessible price point. Because its initial purchase price is low, the absolute depreciation is minimal,’ Schneider said. ‘High demand from budget-conscious used-car buyers who value its simplicity, reliability, and low running costs keeps its percentage-based RVs exceptionally high,’ he noted. Source: Dacia ‘The Dacia Duster being recognised with the 2025 Autovista Group Residual Value Award is a testament to the fantastic car that it is. Basket-leading residual values and a retail-sales first approach has always been at the heart of Dacia’s philosophy,’ commented Luke Broad, Dacia brand director for the UK. ‘This award strongly endorses the Duster’s ability to offer not just an unbeatable level of equipment for our customers’ hard-earned money, but also lasting ownership and resale benefits,’ he added. Compact and Large BEV category The growing Compact and Large BEV category covered all-electric models in the C, D and E-segments, excluding SUVs. The Audi A6 Avant e-tron was able to claim this highly sought-after award, celebrating distinct victories in Germany and Italy. It defeated the Tesla Model 3, which came close in second after finishing third last year and fourth in 2023. Not that far behind was the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which finished third in the 2025 awards. ‘Built on the advanced Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the A6 Avant e-tron represents the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs) from Audi,’ Schneider said. ‘Its 800-volt architecture allows for exceptionally rapid charging speeds. Meanwhile, the platform is engineered to deliver a very long range, addressing key concerns for EV buyers,’ he added. ‘This combination of sleek design and advanced electric technology makes it a highly anticipated and desirable premium BEV, helping it secure the top spot against formidable competitors like the Tesla Model 3,’ Schneider commented. Source: Audi ‘The Audi A6 e-tron family carries forward the brand’s familiar product strengths of performance, efficiency, and charging. An all-electric range of over 450 miles (724km) sets a new standard in the segment and strengthens consumer confidence in the technology and the brand,’ commented Audi UK. Compact and Large BEV SUV category Securing a back-to-back victory after its 2024 triumph, the Porsche Macan once again led the all-electric SUV segment in 2025. Its results were particularly positive in France, Italy, and the UK. It was the RV champion among many high-profile BEV SUVs in the C, D and E-segments. Not far behind in second was the Mini Countryman, which improved on its fifth-place finish in 2024. The Skoda Elroq then came in third, highlighting the rapidly changing nature of the award category. ‘The immense power of the Porsche brand is a key driver of its exceptional value retention. The new all-electric Macan combines this coveted badge with the popular SUV body style and state-of-the-art EV performance,’ Schneider said. ‘The promise of Porsche’s signature driving dynamics in a practical, zero-emission package creates huge desirability. This fusion of brand prestige, performance, and practicality ensures it commands top-tier RVs in the premium BEV SUV market,’ he outlined. Source: Porsche Large Car category The Large Car category was dominated by German brands. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class took the win, enjoying leading results in France and Portugal. It achieved this after taking third in 2024 and fifth in 2023. In 2025, the E-Class was able to overcome some fierce competition against other D and E-segment models, excluding SUVs. It narrowly beat out the BMW 4 Series, which came second this year and fourth in 2023. The Mercedes-Benz CLE was close behind in third, moving up after finishing fourth in 2024. ‘The E-Class is a benchmark for executive luxury, comfort, and technological innovation,’ Schnieder highlighted. Its long-standing reputation as a durable, safe, and prestigious vehicle makes it a sought-after model for used-car buyers,’ Schneider said. ‘This timeless appeal, combined with the power of the Mercedes-Benz brand, ensures that the E-Class holds its value exceptionally well,’ he added. Awards and accolades for the E-Class ‘For decades, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been regarded as the heart of the brand, synonymous with comfort, innovation, and lasting value,’ a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson outlined. Source: Mercedes-Benz Currently, the market environment is influenced by electromobility and digitalisation. Amid this, the E-Class stands out thanks to its safety system development, advanced infotainment technology and efficiency. The spokesperson highlighted how performance remains a key selling point for its internal-combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid variants. ‘In the future, Mercedes will focus clearly on electrification and software integration. The E-Class will become even more connected, semi-autonomous and efficient, and therefore a key component in the transformation to a fully-electric model range.’ ‘In this way, it combines tradition with the future and consolidates its position as a core model in the global premium market,’ they added. Large SUV category Continuing its reign from 2024, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class was the undisputed RV champion in the Large SUV category. Its weighted index result shone across Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland. The brand also took second with the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé, stepping up from third place in 2024. After taking the category win in 2023, then second in 2024, the Land Rover Defender took third in 2025. ‘The G-Class has transcended its utilitarian roots to become a cultural icon and a symbol of ultimate luxury and off-road capability. Its unique, timeless design has created a cult following, and demand consistently exceeds the limited production supply,’ Schneider said. ‘This scarcity, combined with its iconic status, results in extraordinary RVs that are unmatched in the market,’ Schneider commented. ‘This puts it ahead of other strong performers like the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé and Land Rover Defender,’ G-Class gathers awards ‘Since its introduction in 1979, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has undergone a remarkable evolution, never losing its characteristic robust charm. From the outset, the goal was to optimise off-road capability while continuously modernising comfort and features,’ a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said. Source: Mercedes-Benz ‘Today, the G-Class is one of the most sought-after vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio. Its blend of robustness, off-road capability, and luxurious interior makes it the ideal choice for customers looking for a vehicle that excels both in everyday life and off-road,’ they added. Over the years, Mercedes-Benz has expanded the G-Class range to meet the varying needs of its customers. Alongside the off-road classic, there are high-performance AMG variants, limited special models, and since 2024, a BEV version.

Price differences between European used-car markets are creating cross-border sales opportunities for dealers, especially for electric vehicles (EVs). However, after identifying these opportunities, utilising them efficiently and at scale can present a challenge. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, explores the topic at this year’s Used Vehicle Retail Summit. Different European used-car markets can see varied metrics in terms of pricing, stock days and residual values (RVs). This regional difference also applies to EV demand, which is seeing variable adoption rates across the continent. For example, the average trade RV of 36-month-old battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) at 60,000km diverged between neighbouring countries in March. According to Autovista24’s Monthly Market Update, this value sat at €16,371 in France, while in Spain, BEV RVs stood at €24,553. The average number of days needed to sell a two-to-four-year-old BEV also experienced contrasting results across Europe in the month. The turnover rate was 84.2 days in France, compared to an average of 58.8 days in Germany. In this context, cross-border remarketing can unlock potentially untapped value. It allows sellers to capitalise on locations where EV demand is greater, prices are higher, and stock days are lower. It also presents an opportunity to move models away from a market experiencing stagnating demand or oversupply. Cross-border opportunities ‘Supply and demand levels in every single market are continuously evolving and changing. It is simply impossible to manually monitor supply and demand for each market continuously. You need technology,’ outlined Jan-Willem Seeder, founder and CEO of JP.Cars, in his presentation. ‘If you are not using technology, you are always reacting to the market. The concept of supply, demand and marketability is not so complex. The complexity is seeing and monitoring it in real time,’ he noted. Continuously evolving supply and demand can cause different outcomes in each country, even for the same model. Seeder stated that in Germany, all the signals clearly show that [EV] demand significantly outpaced supply. Turnover rates increased, stock indexes dropped, selling indexes rose significantly, and prices went up as well,’ stated Seeder. Jan Willem Seeder, founder and CEO of JP.Cars. ‘If you must buy a BEV in Germany, given these signals, I can imagine it is a very tight market today,’ he said. ‘The question might be, where can I source these cars? Maybe there are markets with other supply and demand ratios across Europe where you could potentially buy similar cars.’ He recognised that there are markets in Europe where supply and demand ratios are different from those in Germany. There could be buying opportunities in numerous markets where buyers could source vehicles. ‘If you have purchased cars for 100 years from a single source in Germany, and that source is providing you with EVs, you will have a very hard time. The market is not local anymore; the market is international,’ he commented. Optimising cross-border adverts Rolf Westgeest, founder of Eurostocks, focused on how cross-border transactions operate on classified marketplace portals. These online platforms allow buyers to search listings and contact sellers directly, rather than purchasing through the platform. ‘There are two things in cross-border trade you can do as a car dealer or retailer. You can go on the auction side with lower prices and fast sales. Or you can go to the classified marketplace portals. It is a higher price, but it could be slower sales of 30 days, 90 days or one year.’ So, if dealers want to benefit from these higher prices, they will need to navigate potentially slower sales. Westgeest highlighted multiple areas where dealers can improve. From left to right: Rolf Westgeest, founder of Eurostocks. Michel van Roon, founder and co-owner of Novatrade24. Westgeest explained that having adverts appear at the top of search queries can help tackle delays. Photo quality and selection can make a big difference in achieving a high search ranking. The number of reviews under a dealer’s profile is also important. Using analytics provided by the portals can help optimise every advert, too. Despite all this, lead response times can often be the deciding factor. ‘After one hour, 50% of the leads are lost because they are already in a conversation with somebody else. In these portals, people send multiple emails to different dealerships selling the same cars. The first one to respond can make the appointment and win the sale,’ Westgeest told the audience. Overall, Westgeest highlighted that cross-border sales do not need to be difficult, especially when using marketplace portals. Dealers will see the best results if they choose the right cars, tools, and strategies for online advertising. Cross-border risks Alongside benefits, cross-border used-vehicle sales can also come with some legal risks. This can include unintentional participation in value-added tax (VAT) fraud schemes or money laundering ploys. Michel van Roon, founder and co-owner of Novatrade24, explained that this possibility has caused dealerships to hold back. ‘By not participating [in cross-border sales] dealerships leave money on the table, because they are afraid of getting trapped into these schemes. If you want to step into that game, you need to know the rules. You must keep in mind that the tax authorities will have one question. Did you know or could you have known that your buyer was a criminal?’ outlined van Roon. From left to right: Michel van Roon, founder and co-owner of Novatrade24. Rolf Westgeest, founder of Eurostocks. Van Roon then outlined the evidence dealers must provide to apply the 0% VAT rate when exporting vehicles. The information and research required is extensive. He also noted that the person responsible for this in a dealership is usually a salesperson. ‘If you look at how much time you take in getting leads, a salesperson should not chase documents. They should chase leads. That is their job. So, if you look at this cross-border trade process, it is full of friction,’ he commented. Is cooperation the key? Van Roon suggested that dealerships in the automotive industry cooperate on this issue. To solve it, digital platforms can be used to simplify cross-border vehicle trading. These platforms manage the legal, administrative, and transaction processes between buyers and sellers in different countries. This can make dealers more confident when participating in cross-border sales. It can also increase trust between dealers, tax authorities and banks. ‘Cross-border compliance does not need to hold you back from doing the trades you need to do to get the best results. But beware of the consequences and requirements,’ warned van Roon. Together, these sessions highlighted a clear opportunity in the European used-car market. Price fragmentation, especially among EVs, is creating significant opportunity for sellers. However, only those with the right tools and processes to act across borders stand to benefit.

Robust demand pushed the EU new-car market to year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2026. Rising electric vehicle (EV) sales prevailed as a significant catalyst for growth. But is a familiar powertrain still dominating sales? James Roberts, Autovista24 web editor, unpicks the latest data. In March, 1,158,317 new vehicles were registered across the EU, according to Autovista24 calculations of ACEA data. This equated to a 12.5% year-on-year lift. Overall, in March, 24 of the 27 EU states recorded new-car market growth. Assessing the first quarter of 2026, this strong March performance helped boost the EU’s overall new-car market. After three months of the year, 2,822,617 new vehicles reached EU customers according to Autovista24 analysis of ACEA data. This ensured a healthy 4% raise, amounting to an additional 107,912 units. Electric sales increase Sales of EVs, spanning battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in-hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), continued to increase in the first quarter. The EU’s four biggest markets, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, all saw double-digit BEV volume increases in the month. This figure has been helped by domestic tax benefits and incentive schemes. However, some countries have seen consumer sentiment turn towards electrification, particularly as petrol and diesel prices increased. Hybrid powertrains, including both mild and full-hybrid versions, also made gains. Consistently the preferred choice for EU consumers, the powertrain made it over the one-million-unit mark in the first quarter. Despite this high watermark, a peak to hybrid demand could be in the rear-view mirror. New petrol vehicles are helping keep the share of internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars above EVs. This gap is narrowing, but is it closing fast enough to satisfy EU goals to phase out new petrol and diesel sales by 2030? Hybrids hold the cards The best-selling powertrain choice for new cars across the EU was hybrids. March saw 444,835 models featuring the technology roll off the bloc’s forecourts. This equated to a 20.1% volume increase and a 38.4% slice of the new-car market, up 2.4 percentage points (pp). Over the first three months of 2026, hybrid volumes increased by 12.8% year on year, with 1,089,421 units accounted for. This underscored a consistently high EU new-car market share of 38.6%, up 3pp. In the first quarter, hybrid registrations increased in 20 of the 27 EU states. Despite eye-catching EV sales growth, the larger markets saw hybrid volumes stay high. After three months of the year, these volumes outweighed both BEV and PHEV figures. Hybrid sales in Italy and Spain scored double-digit increases at 25.8% and 18.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, Germany saw an upswing of 7.4%, and France a modest gain of 3.1%. Other markets scored notable year-on-year hybrid gains in the first quarter. This included Austria with 30.2%, Czechia 14.5%, and Portugal 44.9% Bulgaria witnessed the highest hybrid percentage gain of 114.2% with 647 units registered. Estonia also saw triple-digit gains amounting to 109.3% and 2,286 units. EU EV sales on the right track? Three months into 2026, total EV sales, combining BEV and PHEV volumes, reached 815,281 units in the EU. This marked a 195,466-unit boost, equating to a 31.5% year-on-year increase. This cumulative gain carved out a 28.9% market share, up 6.1pp. BEVs made up the majority of EV registrations, with 546,937 all-electric cars making their way to EU customers. This 32.5% increase in volumes ensured a 19.4% market share, up 4.2pp. Germany enjoyed a year-on-year BEV registrations increase of 41.3% in the first three months of 2026. March helped with the country recording its biggest BEV registration increase and market share since August 2023. Despite ending the first quarter with an overall new-car market drop of 2.1%, France saw a positive BEV result. It was second only to Germany in terms of unit volumes, with 112,083 units delivered. Buoyed by Subsidies, income-based schemes, and company-car tax changes, this trend has helped stabilise the market. Spain’s new-car market impressed in 2025, but EV incentives are being ironed out for this year. However, between January and March, BEV volumes still increased by 41.6%. This is compared with early 2025, which saw inflated market results spurred by aid packages for flood-hit regions. PHEVs helping electrify EU markets Alongside BEV improvements, PHEV registrations continued to grow. In total, 268,344 PHEVs made their way to EU customers between January and March. This marked a 29.7% uptick, securing a 9.5% new-car market share, an increase of 1.9pp year on year. PHEV demand allowed Italy to return strong EV results in the three-month period. While BEV volumes improved by 65.7%, PHEV sales climbed to 40,052, a 110.1% surge. While petrol and diesel deliveries fell in the country, EVs and hybrids enabled market-wide growth of 9.2%. Austria witnessed healthy BEV uptake in the first quarter, with a 22.4% volume increase. Coupled with a 45.6% rise in PHEV sales, this pushed the country’s new-car market to a gain of 17%. Similarly, Poland continued to impress. PHEV power proved irresistible in the EU’s fifth-largest market. In the first three months of the year, the powertrain’s volumes increased by 10.5%, with 11,684 taking to Polish roads. Almost half of these units were registered in March. Balkan boost The most eye-catching EV sales bounce occurred in Croatia. The Balkan nation enjoyed a 282.4% increase in all-electric registrations to 780 units. This has seemingly been achieved with the help of an incentive scheme. Additionally, year-on-year PHEV registrations increased by 145.8%, leaping to 1,094 deliveries between January and March this year. Slovenia also saw a significant turn towards plug-in powertrains. BEV volumes increased 78.2% year on year, with 2,297 sales, while PHEV volumes rose 44.5% to 734 units. The country also saw healthy hybrid increases of 18.5% as well as a marginal petrol registration growth of 1.8%. As the EU new-car market enters the fourth month of the year, one pattern is emerging. EVs are playing a significant part in bolstering EU members’ new-car market fortunes, large and small. Adding hybrid volumes to BEV and PHEV sales across the bloc saw a total of 1,904,702 new vehicles sold between January and March. This ensured a dominant market share of 67.5%, a year-on-year gain of 9.1pp. Petrol remains a choice amid EU electrification Three months into 2026, the EU recorded 636,502 new petrol car registrations. While this marked an 18.2% year-on-year slide, it equated to a 22.6% market share, the second largest after hybrids. Significantly, petrol sales also exceeded BEV and PHEV figures. In total, just five EU nations witnessed petrol registration improvements. The highest came in Estonia, with a 106.3% year-on-year climb. Austria saw a 4.3% improvement. This was boosted by a strong March, where 8,181 new petrol variants were registered in the country. In the larger markets, falling petrol sales proved prevalent in the first quarter. France saw the biggest drop at 40.3%, then Italy at 18.6%, followed by Spain at 18.1%, and Germany at 16.1%. Combined petrol and diesel units topped out at 855,067 across the EU in the first three months of 2026. This gave new ICE registrations a 30.3% hold over the market, down 7.9pp year-on-year, but still 1.4pp ahead of the EV market share. While petrol still provides a relatively popular mainstream new-car choice, diesel continues to decline. Between January and March, 218,565 new vehicles made their way to customers, down 15.7%, returning a 7.7% market share, falling 1.8pp year on year. Just four nations recorded growth for the fuel type.