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China’s EV decline continues as BEV and PHEV sales struggle in April

The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) markets in China struggled again in April. But was there any consistency among the best-selling models? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the latest data.

China’s electric vehicle (EV) market continued its downward spiral in April, as BEVs and PHEVs lost ground compared to 2025.

The month saw a total of 580,303 BEVs sold in China, according to the latest data provided by EV Volumes. This was a 4.4% decline compared to 12 months prior. However, in terms of both volumes and year-on-year performance, April represented the best month for the market so far.

China’s BEV market struggled in the first four months of 2026. Between January and April, 1,752,462 units were sold in the country, a drop of 18.1%.

While China’s all-electric market experienced turbulence, PHEV sales were even shakier in April. A total of 247,510 units reflected the best monthly result of the year in terms of volume. However, this was 33.2% down compared to April 2025.

That meant that four months into the year, deliveries were down by 35.5%, with 881,436 units taking to Chinese roads. The country’s new PHEV market may struggle to record growth across 2026 unless sales ramp up in the coming months.

Back to the BEV summit

The Geely Geome Xingyuan climbed to the top of the BEV table in April. Last year’s overall best-seller had been languishing behind its rivals at the start of 2026. However, with 35,249 sales in the month, it dominated the market for the first time in 2026.

The Geely model increased its market share by 0.1 percentage points (pp) in April. This meant it accounted for 6.1% of all BEV sales in China. However, its overall sales volume dropped 2.8%, compared to April 2025.

Coming in second was the Xiaomi SU7. This was the model’s first appearance in the top 10 so far this year. Meanwhile, its sibling, the YU7, dropped out of the table for the first time this year.

The SU7 achieved 26,768 deliveries in April, 6.4% down year on year. The result was good enough for a 4.6% market share, a drop of 0.1pp.

Rounding out the top three was the Tesla Model Y. The US carmaker was another to experience a mixed month. The crossover achieved 23,206 sales, up 16.1% compared to April 2025. This gave it a market share of 4%, up by 0.7pp.

But while the Model Y remained popular, the carmaker’s Model 3 failed to make the top 10 for the second time this year. It ended up outside the top 50 best-selling BEVs in April.

BYD builds again

Taking fourth was the Li Auto I6, maintaining its run of results in the Chinese top four this year. With 20,986 units sold in its eighth month on the market, it took a 3.6% share.

A trio of BYD models followed, led by the Sealion 06. With 17,339 deliveries, it took 3% of the market. It was followed by the Yuan Up, with 15,884 sales, down by 1% year on year. Next came the BYD Dolphin, which experienced a volume jump of 53.5%, as its 14,312 units provided positivity for the Chinese carmaker.

A new entrant to the top 10, the Qiyuan Q05 took eighth with 13,763 units, a record result for the model in its eighth month on the market. Meanwhile, the Nio ES8, which has been a strong performer in 2026, fell to ninth, with 13,524 sales.

Rounding out the top 10 was the Xpeng M03, with 12,941 deliveries, an 8.9% decrease compared to the same month last year.

Tesla tops the BEV chart

While it slipped to third in April’s table, the Tesla Model Y held the top spot in China’s cumulative chart. This was thanks to consistent performances, including topping the table in February and March. With 105,309 sales across four months, it held 6% of the market.

Thanks to its chart-topping result in April, the Geely Geome Xingyuan jumped to second, with 92,398 units. Although it sat 12,911 sales behind the Tesla, it could close the gap with continued strong results. In April, it achieved 12,043 more sales than the Model Y.

Having fallen out of the monthly top 10, the Xiaomi YU7 slipped to third place in the cumulative results. However, as a mark of its stronger showing elsewhere in the year, it maintained a top-three place. With 81,588 sales, the model held 4.7% of the market. However, with the Geome Xingyuan topping April’s chart, the YU7 fell 10,810 sales behind this rival.

Fang Cheng Bao leads PHEV sector

For the fourth month in succession, the PHEV market was led by the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7. As in March, it held a slender lead over second place. The model achieved 12,901 sales in April, taking a 5.2% market share.

The model has been a standout performer in China’s ailing new PHEV market. Yet its reign at the top of the pile could end soon. In April, it was only 199 units ahead of the BYD Song Pro.

The BYD model has also been a consistent performer in China’s PHEV market this year. While the brand is struggling overall, it still maintains a dominant grip on the powertrain sector. In April, five of the top 10 PHEV models came from the stable.

The Song Pro saw 12,702 deliveries in the month, for a 5.1% market share. While this was a jump of 1.3pp, its volumes dropped by 10.9% year on year. Yet this decline was the best of the BYD bunch. Sitting third was the Qin Plus, with deliveries falling 46.5%. Its market share also fell by 1pp, to 3.8%.

Fourth went to the Zeekr 9X, with 9,302 units moved in its eighth month on sale. Meanwhile, the BYD Seal 6 rounded out the top five with 7,187 deliveries. This was a 48.8% decline, highlighting the carmaker’s struggles in its domestic market during 2026.

BYD struggles pull market down

The Aito M7 ended April in sixth with 6,549 sales, a 62.7% year-on-year rise. While its share increased by 1.5pp to 2.6%, the model has been unable to keep up the strong momentum from earlier in the year.

Seventh was taken by the Wey Gaoshan, with 5,571 sales. Volumes increased by 1,732.6%, as it powered forward in its domestic market. The Li Auto L6 took eighth with 5,374 deliveries, a 67.9% decline compared to April 2025.

Completing the top 10 were a pair of BYD models, with the Song L in ninth, as 4,861 units represented a 56.2% decline. In 10^th was the Qin L, with 4,830 units delivered to customers. This was the worst decline for BYD models in the top 10, as volumes dropped 60.2% year on year.

A dominant performance

Following its consistently strong performances, the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 lead the cumulative chart after four months of 2026. With 55,578 units, it held 6.3% of the market. Thanks to its domination in January and February, it maintained an 11,103-unit gap over second place.

Maintaining second was the BYD Song Pro. It did this despite recording year-on-year volume declines in each of the four months of 2026. With 44,475 units, it held a 5% share of the PHEV market between January and April.

The BYD Qin Plus jumped into third, deposing the Aito M7. This was thanks to differing performances, with the BYD just 780 units ahead of its rival. The Qin Plus represented 3.7% of PHEV sales after four months, despite significant losses year on year.

Can a new support package bolster Italy’s automotive fortunes?

The Italian new-car market enjoyed another month of growth in May. But can a major new industry funding framework provide a catalyst for further prosperity? Autovista24 content specialist James Roberts assesses the latest industry data.

May underlined a strong first five months of 2026 for the Italian new-car market. In total, 150,043 new passenger cars were registered, according to ANFIA data. This marked a 7.6% year-on-year increase.

Between January and May, a total of 789,802 new vehicles were registered across Italy. This ensured a 9.4% rise in volumes, compared with 12 months prior.

Electric vehicles (EVs), including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), continued to flourish in the month.

Conversely, internal-combustion engine (ICE) models, including petrol and diesel variants, pushed on with their trend of decline. Meanwhile, hybrids, made up of full and mild variants, commanded the overall new-car marketplace.

Italy’s sustained growth is significant, helping to ameliorate a sluggish 2025 for the market. Coupled with this, further consumer and manufacturer confidence could be boosted by recently announced funding plans.

Increased automotive industry support confirmed

In May, the Italian government approved the Automotive Prime Ministerial Decree (DPCM). This €1.34 billion fund is aimed at supporting companies in the automotive supply chain, including production investments, research, and innovation.

The government also indicated that approximately €251 million, previously diverted to temporary fuel-price measures, will be restored to the fund.

Rather than focusing on specific financing, the DPCM targets wider automotive industry issues, supporting the development of new mobility technologies. It aims to bolster domestic manufacturers in the face of market challenges and increased competition.

Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Senator Adolfo Urso, confirmed the plan aims to support the supply chain’s transformation. This will range from manufacturing components up to advanced technologies for sustainable, connected, autonomous and safe vehicles.

He also emphasised a shift in policy focus from market subsidies towards support for business investment, including research enhancement, aimed at wider industrial growth. More than 70% of the decree’s resources are expected to support innovation agreements.

Caution from automotive observers

ANFIA welcomed the Automotive DPCM. In particular, the body highlighted its focus on supply chain support, including production investment, research, development, and innovation.

Measures to support sustainable mobility and commercial fleet renewal were also welcomed. The association also emphasised the importance of rapid implementation to ensure industry stability.

Meanwhile, UNRAE president Roberto Pietrantonio indicated the need for clarity around the decree’s objectives. He argued that automotive-transition funds should remain focused on long-term industry and fleet renewal measures.

The body president commented that industrial recovery requires broad policies and a stable regulatory framework capable of restoring market confidence.

The association also criticised the diversion of roughly €251 million from the automotive fund to temporary fuel-price relief. Pietrantonio argued that Italy should move past temporary measures and towards a more structural solution.

Taxation reform for corporate fleets was also highlighted as an important tool to combine decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness.

EV volumes continue to rise

BEV and PHEV volumes continued to rise year-on-year in May. ANFIA highlighted this was mainly supported by private demand.

In total, 13,274 new BEVs took to Italy’s roads. This second-highest monthly result of the year ensured an 86.5% year-on-year increase, carving out an 8.8% market share. This was a 3.7 percentage point (pp) improvement on 12 months prior.

PHEV demand continued to prove significant in May. Overall, 15,164 were registered in the month, a 68.5% year-on-year lift, securing a 10.1% market share.

As a result, EV registrations, including BEVs and PHEVs, reached 28,438 units in May. This meant 19% of all new cars registered in May could be plugged in. As well as a 7.4pp year-on-year lift, it was also the largest monthly share the combined powertrains have achieved so far in 2026.

Hybrid honeymoon cooling?

In Italy, as in the EU, hybrids have long proved the dominant powertrain. However, echoing wider trends, registrations of new hybrid passenger cars showed signs of slowing in May.

Overall, 70,334 new hybrids joined Italy’s car parc last month. Amid a 16.5% uplift in year-on-year volumes, it was the lowest monthly total of 2026. Additionally, it marked the smallest year-on-year volume increase so far this year at 16.5%.

With this apparent cooling, the powertrain accounted for 46.9% of Italy’s new-car market in May. This was up from 43.3% at the same point last year.

ICE down but not out

As EV volumes rose, eating into the dominance of hybrid powertrains, new ICE registrations continued to slide in May.

Total deliveries of petrol and diesel models slumped 18.8%, as 40,869 units left Italy’s forecourts. This reflected a 27.2% market share, down 8.9pp year on year.

There was still demand for new petrol vehicles, with 30,768 units registered in May. This equated to a 14.4% year-on-year volume drop, based on Autovista24 calculations. The fuel type did remain the second most popular fuel type after hybrids, holding a 20.5% share. However, this was down from 25.8% 12 months ago.

As petrol proved a relatively popular new-car option in Italy, diesel continued to drag. 10,101 deliveries, the lowest monthly total for the fuel type in 2026, was underpinned by a 29.6% year-on-year registrations drop.

After five months, diesel’s market share sat at 7%, a fall of 3.1pp. Meanwhile, petrol took a 20.1% share, down 6.5pp. This continued demand for ICE, especially for petrol power, will provide further headaches for electrification in Italy.

Between January and May, the ICE market share led that of EVs by 10.5pp. As 2026 enters its second half, it will be pivotal to assess whether the new decree can help expedite a powertrain shift.

Fiat on top in May

The Fiat Panda emerged as Italy’s best-selling car in May. In total, 8,964 units were registered in the month. This meant that after five months of the year, the compact mild hybrid moved 54,594 units, according to ANFIA.

The Panda’s registrations total was double that of the second-best-selling model in May. The Dacia Sandero claimed that spot with 4,382 units.

After five months of the year, with 23,943 deliveries, the Jeep Avenger ended up as the second most popular new-car option. In May, it landed fourth, with 3,911 registrations, beaten to third by an increasingly pivotal Chinese-developed market disruptor.

May saw another month of eye-catching registrations from the Leapmotor T03. Since its Italian market launch in September 2025, the compact BEV has become one of the country’s most popular EVs. The month saw 4,250 new T03 units reach customers.

This brought the total across the first five months of the year to 19,100. Approaching the mid-point of 2026, it is the fourth best-selling car in Italy.

Meanwhile, the BYD Atto 2 emerged as the fifth best-selling model in Italy during May, with 3,818 registrations. With increased competition from these new Chinese EVs, industry watchers will be keen to see if the new decree impacts the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers.

Have Germany’s new EV incentives made an impact?

The online portal for Germany’s new electric vehicle (EV) incentives opened in May. This came as the powertrain group bolstered the overall new-car market, while internal-combustion engine (ICE) models struggled. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, analyses the impact of incentives.

The German new-car market narrowly managed its fourth month of consecutive year-on-year growth in May. Registrations increased by just 0.1%, as 239,448 new models took to the country’s roads, the KBA reported.

According to Autovista24 analysis, this translated to an additional 151 deliveries compared to the same month last year. However, last month saw two fewer working days than May 2025. The VDIK stated that registration growth was 11.2% when adjusting for calendar effects.

Despite a relatively stagnant month, May kept the German new-car market on its path of growth. Deliveries were up 3.6% between January and May, totalling 1,188,015 units. At first glance, Germany’s new EV incentives for private buyers appear to be a driving force behind this improvement.

The powertrain group enjoyed soaring volumes in the cumulative figures and during May, while ICE models continued their decline. However, a closer look at the figures reveals that EV incentives were not the only factor at play.

EV incentives activated

After being revealed in January, the online application portal for Germany’s new EV incentives opened on 19 May.

The scheme offers a direct grant for the purchase and lease of new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), extended-range electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles (EREVs). PHEVs and EREVs must meet climate protection standards and will be approved up to June 2027.

The model must be bought by a private individual and needs to be kept for at least 36 months. Taxable household income and family size determine the amount of funding available for each applicant. Importantly, retroactive applications are eligible back to 1 January 2026.

‘These EV incentives are an important building block in creating additional purchase stimulus and stimulating the private EV market in a targeted manner. From now on, car dealerships will be in the front row with great motivation to inspire customers for this subsidy,’ commented ZDK president Thomas Peckruhn.

‘The current trend in demand shows that more customers are consciously opting for an EV,’ he noted. The new incentives were also well received by another industry body, which highlighted an uptick in BEV orders.

‘The federal government’s funding is an additional incentive, especially for small and medium-sized incomes, where price sensitivity plays a special role. The development of demand is optimistic, with incoming orders for BEVs more than doubling compared to the same month last year,’ said VDIK president Imelda Labbé.

An immediate impact?

EV deliveries rose by 28.8% year-on-year to 87,890 units, the smallest improvement since February 2026. Within this category, BEVs recorded a 39.3% increase to 59,969 deliveries. For PHEVs, a 10.9% upswing to 27,921 units was the lowest growth of 2026 so far.

Even so, EVs’ slice of the new-car market did not thin in May. Despite a 0.2 percentage point (pp) drop in share from April, EVs’ 36.7% hold was up 8.2pp year on year.

BEVs suffered a month-on-month fall of 0.8pp to a 25% share. However, this represented an increase of 7pp compared to May 2025. Conversely, PHEVs’ share rose by 0.6pp from April, reaching 11.7%. This was up 1.2pp compared to 12 months prior.

May’s results remained roughly in line with the cumulative EV performance. Volumes grew by 32% in the first five months of the year, as the powertrain’s share reached 35%. This was up 7.5pp from the same period in 2025.

BEV deliveries improved by 40.9% between January and May. This gave the technology a 23.9% slice of the market, up 6.3pp year on year. PHEV volumes grew by 16.1%, while its hold rose by 1.2pp to 11.1%.

Consistent growth to continue?

This indicates year-on-year EV growth could continue at a consistent pace, rather than resulting in a short-term delivery spike.

This is in part thanks to the new EV subsidies’ long-term ambition. The government has allocated €3 billion to the scheme and aims to subsidise around 800,000 vehicles by the end of 2029.

By contrast, Italy’s latest EV incentives, launched in October 2025 with more than €597 million in funding, were exhausted within 24 hours.

The retroactive design of Germany’s scheme may also result in a more balanced rise throughout this year. This is because buyers did not need to hold off on purchases at the start of 2026. Even so, June will provide more answers on whether the programme’s activation will cause a steep EV registration surge.

Brands to benefit from EV incentives?

Germany’s new EV incentives also differ from the UK’s scheme, which uses a split-tier system based on strict sustainability criteria.

Instead, Germany’s subsidy puts all carmakers on an equal footing. It allows brands that import vehicles to Europe to benefit from the same eligibility as those hailing from the continent. This comes as the balance between domestic and international brands in Germany’s BEV market is shifting.

‘The disproportionate increase in the BEV market share of international manufacturers is due to their strong product range, especially in the entry-level segment. It is also due to the lower operating costs compared to ICE models,’ explained Labbé.

Some non-European brands, such as Tesla, saw strong growth in the overall new-car market during May. The US marque enjoyed the best year-on-year growth of any brand that recorded more than 100 registrations. Its 322.4% improvement was paired with a 2.1% share.

Meanwhile, BYD held a 2.6% share, benefiting from a 232.1% improvement. Xpeng managed a comparable growth of 240.3% on a smaller share of 0.3%. Leapmotor was a little further ahead, after a 139.1% improvement left it with a 0.5% share. Smart recorded a similar increase of 140.2% year on year, as it represented 0.3% of all new-car deliveries.

Declining domestic brands

Meanwhile, a declining trend was seen across most of Germany’s best-selling brands during May. Mercedes-Benz saw registrations fall by 8.9%, despite moving the second largest number of new cars, taking an 8.3% share.

BMW, the third best-selling carmaker in May, endured a 3.4% fall while keeping an 8.2% market share. The Volkswagen (VW) brand was some way ahead of them both with a 19% slice of the market. However, it also suffered an 8.9% delivery drop compared to May 2025.

Looking at VW Group brands, Audi felt a 2.7% downturn in volumes as it took fifth in the best-sellers table. Skoda was above it, with an 0.8% decline in registrations. SEAT sat sixth, after a 4.6% year-on-year delivery drop.

Only two carmakers in the top 10 best-sellers list recorded growth. This was Opel and Renault, as registrations rose by 9.9% and 43.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, the only two brands in the list originating from outside of Europe saw declines. Hyundai suffered a 16.9% drop, as Ford volumes fell by 21.7%.

Poor ICE performance

With some brands experiencing a more difficult May, so too did ICE models. Petrol deliveries plummeted by 23.7% to 51,806 units, as its market share fell 6.8pp to 21.6%. This placed it 3.4pp behind BEVs.

Diesel suffered a shallower drop of 13% year on year to 30,547 deliveries. In turn, its grip on the market loosened by 1.9pp to 12.8%. This was just 1.1pp ahead of PHEVs.

Combining petrol and diesel figures, ICE models made up 34.4% of total new-car volumes. This was 2.3pp behind EVs and 8.7pp down year on year. The ICE group’s 20.1% fall in May was diluted to a 15.3% drop in the cumulative figures. Between January and May, the share of ICE models remained ahead of EVs by 0.7pp, at 35.7%.

This decline was mostly powered by petrol’s 18.5% slump in the first five months of the year. This caused its share to decline by 6.1pp to 22.2%. Diesel’s slice of the market also thinned by 1.9pp to 13.4%, paired with a 9.3% drop in volumes.

No help from hybrids?

Hybrids saw a more positive performance, but did not offer much help in May. The technology, which includes full and mild hybrids, saw just 555 additional units registered last month compared to May 2025.

This translated to a 0.8% growth, with 67,545 new models delivered. Hybrids still led the market with a 28.2% share, up 0.2pp from May 2025.

However, this slowing growth could indicate that private buyers are beginning to move away from technology. Instead, they may be more inclined to opt for EVs now that incentives have been activated. Between January and May, hybrid figures rose by 5.4%, while its share was up 0.5pp to 29%.

As ICE deliveries fall and hybrids potentially face a slowdown, EV registration growth will become essential to the new-car market’s health. Therefore, the effectiveness of Germany’s latest EV incentives will have a big impact on the country’s automotive sector.

As UK new-car registrations increase, are BEV targets realistic?

The UK new-car market saw another month of registrations growth in May. But while battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) lead the way, are mandated targets becoming too optimistic? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the numbers.

The UK’s new-car market saw another strong performance in May, as its run of growth extended into a sixth month.

The latest data from the SM M T shows 160,662 passenger cars joined the country’s roads in the month. This was a 7.1% increase year-on-year, equating to an additional 10,592 units based on Autovista24 calculations.

According to the SMMT, the growth was driven by a resurgence in private buyers. This segment of the market saw a 17.2% increase in deliveries, as customers responded to increasing competitive offers from a growing range of brands.

This led to a 6.4% rise in model choice year on year. Within this, the number of BEVs available between January and May increased by 25.6%. In May 2026, a total of 21 additional models received at least one registration compared with a year prior. In total, 31 new BEV models have received registrations across the first five months of the year.

Brands such as Aion, Changan, Chery, Chevrolet, Geely, Mitsubishi and Skywell all saw deliveries in May, with no registrations 12 months prior. The UK’s automotive market is diversifying, and this choice is likely helping to drive growth in the private sector.

Fleet demand grew more modestly, rising by 1.8%. The market still accounted for 57.1% of all registrations. The smaller business sector declined by 18.8%. However, this equated to a drop of just 720 units, according to Autovista24 calculations.

After five months of the year, the UK market stood 8.7% larger than it had at the same point in 2025. With 924,763 registrations, it is well on course to end the year up overall.

BEVs fly as targets remain distant

The UK market was buoyed by the performance of electric vehicles (EVs). Made up of BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the market saw a 30.5% uptick in registrations during May. With 66,098 deliveries, the sector achieved a 41.1% market share, up 7.4 percentage points (pp) year on year. This meant the gap between EVs and internal-combustion engine (ICE) models continued to narrow.

BEVs led the way in May, with the best growth of any powertrain . With 43,931 registrations in the month, they achieved a 34.2% jump year on year. This led to a 27.3% share of the monthly new-car total, a rise of 5.5pp. This was also the all-electric market’s biggest monthly share of 2026.

After five months, BEVs have seen registrations increase by 24.3% to 220,629 units. The powertrain’s momentum has ramped up throughout the year, following small increases in January and February. However, its 23.9% market share, while up 3pp, is still far below the 33% required by the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

So, it seems likely that a major intervention from carmakers or the government is needed to meet targets. According to forecast data published in March by EV Volumes, the UK will see 2,061,866 units registered in 2026. For BEVs to represent 33% of the market, the powertrain would need to see over 680,000 deliveries to customers across the 12 months of the year.

Therefore, almost 460,000 additional registrations are needed between June and December. Based on Autovista24 calculations of available SMMT data, in that period of last year, 295,861 BEVs were delivered. Therefore, across the seven-month period, the technology would need to see an increase of 55.4% in registrations.

Pressure builds on carmakers

Carmakers can use various flexibilities drawn into the legislation to help meet their own mandated targets. However, should the UK not meet the 33% share requirement overall, it would be the third successive year that targets have not aligned.

The SMMT highlighted that the widening gap between government expectations and consumer demand is increasing pressure on carmakers. Many of these are having to absorb the rising costs of compliance.

Adding to this pressure was the seventh Carbon Budget, recently published by the UK government. According to the Climate Change Committee, electric models will make up 95% of the UK’s new car and van sales by 2030. The committee reported that the falling cost of batteries will propel the move to electric. This would allow BEVs to reach price parity with comparable petrol and diesel cars between 2026 and 2028.

The SMMT highlighted that this is an ambition well beyond the ZEV mandate requirement of 80% for the car market, and 70% for light-commercial vehicles. The industry body also noted that achieving this share would require a tripling of EV demand in three years. They commented that this is highly unlikely under current outlooks.

‘If such targets are to be credible, then equally ambitious fiscal and investment support would be essential. A holistic review of the transition is urgently needed,’ stated the SMMT.

UK PHEV slowdown begins?

Although strong, registrations of PHEVs slowed in May. For the first time this year, the delivery increase came in under 40%. The 22,167-unit total equated to a 23.9% rise year on year. This was still good enough for a 13.8% market share, up 1.9pp compared to May 2025.

The performance between January and May meant that despite the slight slowdown, PHEVs have still seen a 41.8% increase in the five-month period. With 121,430 units delivered, the technology accounted for 13.1% of the overall market, a 3pp jump year on year.

Adding these figures to the BEV tally, EV numbers have improved by 30% in the first five months of 2026. The powertrain group accounted for 37% of the new-car market, a rise of 6.1pp compared to 12 months prior.

HEVs lose ground

The SMMT counts the hybrid market differently from other European automotive authorities. Mild hybrids (MHEVs) are merged with their respective petrol and diesel counterparts, leaving full hybrids (HEVs) as a standalone segment.

In May, HEVs achieved a minimal volume increase of 1.8%. According to Autovista24 calculations, this equated to an additional 368 units taking to UK roads.

The result meant that, in terms of market share, HEVs fell behind PHEVs for the second month in succession. Their 12.9% hold of the overall total was 0.7pp down year on year, as other powertrains saw greater improvement. The gap between the two hybrid types grew to 0.9pp, having sat at 0.6pp in April’s monthly figures.

HEVs have seen growth in every month of 2026. However, coming up against strong volumes from 2025 means a slower trajectory of improvement. Meanwhile, PHEVs are performing well, but against lower figures from last year.

This meant that after five months, HEVs have kept their lead against PHEVs. Volumes were up 7.2%, with 131,802 units. This was good enough for a 14.3% hold of the market, even though this was 0.2pp down year on year. The figure was also just 1.2pp up on the PHEV market share.

Adding HEVs into the EV figures, the electrified sector saw a 22.3% improvement in May. Its share of 54% meant it outpaced ICE for the third consecutive month. Between January and May, electrified registrations grew 22.7%, and held 51.2% of the UK market, up 5.8pp.

Petrol leads in the UK

Petrol continued to lead the UK market in May. Combined with MHEVs, the powertrain saw 66,223 registrations in the month. This was, however, a 7.1% decline compared to the same period last year.

The fuel type managed to secure 41.2% of the overall market in the month, a drop of 6.3pp. However, it remained the dominant technology, with a 13.9pp lead over BEVs.

In the first five months of the year, petrol has seen a slight decrease of 2.5% to 406,453 units. This equated to 10,358 fewer models taking to UK roads, according to Autovista24 analysis. Yet with a 44% share, it remained the leading choice with new-car buyers. This was down 5pp compared to five-month period in 2025.

It may take some time for other powertrains to topple the petrol market in the UK. Combined with MHEVs, it remains a formidable force. Yet the gap to BEVs, the second-best choice, has closed since January. In the first month of the year, it was a 27.1pp chasm. Between January and May, the gap was 20.1pp.

Meanwhile, diesel saw 7,622 deliveries in May, a drop of 2.2%. Its 4.7% share was 0.5pp down, as it remained the least-popular fuel type. After five months, diesel suffered a 7.4% decline in volumes to 44,449 registrations, with its 4.8% share down 0.8pp.

Combining the two powertrains, the ICE market fell 6.6% in May. The powertrain group’s 73,845 registrations equated to a 46% market share, down 6.7pp, as it lagged behind electrified totals.

After five months, ICE deliveries have dropped by 3%, with 450,905 registrations. This equated to a 48.8% market share, down by 5.8pp.

The Automotive Update: Residual value results and public EV chargers

How did residual values (RVs) perform across major European markets in May? How did this influence outlooks? Plus, where are public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations getting a boost? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus talks through the data in the latest episode of the Automotive Update podcast.

Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker appears in this week’s podcast episode to discuss value retention trends from seven European used-car markets. Drawing on expert insights, he outlines what to expect in the years ahead.

Then, an exploration of EV Volumes’ latest data on public EV charging infrastructure covering 75 different markets. The duo then considers how the pace of growth was directed by different countries.

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Automotive residual values

May’s Monthly Market Update reveals value declines as a percentage of retained list price (%RV) after 36 months and 60,000km. Meanwhile, new-car list prices rose year-on-year. This trend was recorded in the used-car markets of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

Compared with May 2025, %RVs saw the greatest drop in Italy, where values fell by 3.7 percentage points (pp) to 44.4%. Meanwhile, the smallest decline was recorded in Austria, with a 0.7pp fall to 46.6%. Regional experts also forecast one of the smallest year-on-year drops by the end of 2026.

In contrast, the outlook for Italy foresees the steepest %RV descent of the seven recorded markets. But it is the only location where values are expected to increase once more by 2028. Most other markets expect to see marginal declines by that point.

Electric automotive infrastructure

Public EV charging infrastructure continued to record year-on-year growth in May, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. This details the number of locations a particular connector type can be found. This more accurately reflects the variety of chargers the public has access to.

While there was a year-on-year jump of 25.2% in the number of plug-in points, this confirmed a consistent slowdown. The pace at which new infrastructure has been installed has eased from 81.8% in May 2023.

Representing 83.1% of all charging locations recorded by EV Volumes, China has been a major driver of this result. Following a 110% year-on-year plug-in point expansion in May 2023, this rate decreased consistently to 28% in May 2026.

To put the country’s share into perspective, the next biggest infrastructure location was the Netherlands with a 2.7% share. Other leading locations from Europe included Germany, the UK and France.

More broadly, 524,923 stations were tallied by EV Volumes in Europe, up 15.7% year on year. Meanwhile, the US accounted for 1.8% of recorded plug-in points, with 88,050 locations. This equated to a growth of 7.7% compared with the previous May.

Is Spain’s new-car market suffering from EV incentive uncertainty?

A leading light in Europe’s new-car market landscape, Spain, witnessed a rare downturn in May. As electric vehicle (EV) incentives continue to be formalised, is there any cause for concern? Autovista24 content specialist James Roberts assesses the latest data.

Spain’s new-car market recorded a year-on-year decline in May, the first such fall since December 2025. However, the month’s data was compared with a particularly strong performance 12 months prior.

In total, 111,894 new vehicles took to Spanish roads last month. This marked a year-on-year decline of 0.8%, and a deficit of 926 units based on Autovista24 calculations of available Faconauto and ANFAC data.

Despite the relatively small drop in volumes, it is a shift from the sustained monthly improvements recently achieved. As a result, expected challenges could be coming to fruition.

Despite this, across the first five months of the year, the Spanish new-car market remained in positive territory. Overall, 519,283 new passenger cars reached customers according to ANFAC, up 5.8% year on year.

New EV incentive framework delays

Spain’s consistently strong new-car market has been aided by EV incentives. During 2025, the MOVES III programme saw impressive year-on-year volume increases for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

This year has seen the framework replaced with the Auto Plan+, formally announced in December last year. However, despite further clarity in February, this more centralised EV incentive scheme is yet to be formally activated. Although incentives will be retroactively available from 1 January 2026, the full operational announcement is yet to be finalised.

Despite continued EV proliferation in Spain’s new-car market, some industry observers have voiced concern regarding these delays.

‘Spain is betting heavily on electrification,’ stated José López-Tafall, general director of ANFAC. ‘The Auto+ plan should not be delayed any longer, it is a key tool to boost demand and facilitate citizens’ access to electrified mobility.

‘The future of our industry, essential for our country, lies in electrification and if we want to consolidate ourselves as an industrial hub, having a strong market is a fundamental issue. Because, as stated in the Spain Auto 2030 Plan, this is the time to decide if we want to be only a market or, in addition, a strong market backed by a benchmark industrial hub in Europe,’ he added.

BEV demand proves strong

May saw 12,049 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) join Spain’s car parc. This marked a 34.4% year-on-year upswing, amounting to 3,084 additional units, according to Autovista24 calculations of the latest industry data.

Despite some uncertainty surrounding the Auto+ plan, May’s BEV total returned a double-digit monthly share. Its 10.8% hold ensured a 2.9 percentage point (pp) lift, compared with 12 months prior.

Between January and May, 48,998 new BEVs reached customers in Spain, a healthy 39.9% year-on-year boost. As a result, the all-electric new-car market share stood at 9.4%. This was a modest year-on-year gain of 2.3pp.

In May, 13,741 new PHEVs were registered in Spain. This equated to the lowest year-on-year growth so far in 2026, with deliveries rising just 6.6%. The additional 845 units helped carve out a 12.3% market share.

Across the first five months of the year, the powertrain’s market share seemingly hit a cul-de-sac of 12%. This was thanks to the registration of 62,388 units, which still marked a sizeable 46.7% year-on-year uplift.

Plug-in market share stagnation?

Despite healthy sales, the plug-in market share of BEV and PHEV volumes proved static in Spain between January and May.

Combined, 111,386 new BEVs and PHEVs joined Spain’s roads in the first five months of 2026. This 43.6% year-on-year surge reflects an increase in electrified model options on the market and incentivisation.

After five months of the year, the technology’s market share stood at 21.5%. Although this marks a positive 5.7pp lift, it was just 0.7pp up on January. This apparent stasis could be a symptom of incentive uncertainty. It remains to be seen whether the expected clarity will help boost the plug-in market share further.

Hybrids continue to electrify Spain

In step with much of Europe’s new-car market, hybrids, consisting of both full and mild-hybrid technologies, remained popular in Spain.

In total, 53,414 new models were registered in May. This equated to a year-on-year lift of 18.7%, plus a 47.7% market hold, which was mirrored in the year-to-date results. Between January and May, hybrid registrations jumped by 19.5% to 247,755 units.

Combining hybrid volumes and the EV total saw a continued lift in the electrified vehicle share in Spain. After five months of the year, this powertrain mix took a 69.2% market share, gaining 11.2pp. This was the result of 359,141 deliveries, up 26.1% year on year.

ICE remains an electrification hurdle

Monthly year-on-year double-digit declines for both new petrol and diesel registrations continued in Spain during May. Despite this, petrol remained the second best-selling new-car option across the first five months of the year.

The fuel type recorded 122,249 registrations, down 20.3% year on year. However, it did retain a 23.5% market share. This made petrol Spain’s second most popular powertrain after hybrids, 14.1pp ahead of BEVs, and 11.5pp above PHEVs.

Meanwhile, diesel sales have continued to nosedive in the same five-month period. Just 20,046 units were accounted for, ensuring a 27.6% year-on-year volume drop, and a market share of just 3.9%, down 1.7pp.

Internal-combustion engines (ICEs), merging petrol and diesel volumes, reached 142,295 between January and May. This 21.4% year-on-year slide contributed to a market share of 27.4%, down 9.5pp.

Despite this established ICE tailspin, the grouping was 5.9pp ahead of plug-in vehicles in Spain’s new-car market. Major questions remain: how long before the deficit is defunct, and can EV incentive clarification expedite this switch?

Are BEVs the cure to France’s ailing new-car market?

France has seen another month of new-car registration increases as the market claws back from a poor start to the year. But could reliance on one powertrain prove to be the market’s undoing? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the latest data.

With a positive registration result in May, the new-car market in France is seemingly regaining some of its confidence.

According to the PFA and AAA Data, 128,484 new cars took to the country’s roads, a year-on-year increase of 3.7%. This was the second month of 2026 to see improvement, following a minimal loss in April.

These results have seen the French new-car market recover from a poor start to the year. Across the first two months of 2026, deliveries were down 11.1%. However, there was a positive performance in March and more marginal results in April and May. This equated to a year-on-year decline of just 0.6% in the year to date.

Over the five-month period, 668,379 new cars were registered. This was just 4,321 units fewer than the same period last year.

BEVs provide boost for France

The registration rise in France was helped by a strong result in the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market. All other major powertrains saw losses in the month. Deliveries of all-electric models increased by 92.7%. In all, 37,415 units left dealerships, almost double the number in May 2025.

The BEV market has been France’s saviour so far this year. It is the only powertrain to have seen deliveries increase every month of the year. After five months, all-electric registrations grew by 55.4% to 185,714 units. This was good enough for a 27.8% slice of the market.

Things could continue to improve for BEVs. In April, the French government set out its plans for the future of electric mobility in the country.

This includes an industrial objective for French manufacturers to produce 400,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year by 2027. This target is then set to increase to one million by 2030.

In addition, the government confirmed that its third social leasing plan for EVs is set to resume in June. This will cover an additional 50,000 models.

A new program is also planned for high-mileage drivers. This is aimed at home care workers, caregivers, nurses, tradespeople, employees, and public servants. The new plan will see an additional 50,000 subsidised EVs starting in 2026.

PHEVs continue to struggle

While BEVs have been the success story in France, their EV counterpart, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), have struggled. May saw another month of decline, as 6.5% fewer models took to the country’s roads. The 7,648 new registrations represented 6% of the country’s market, a drop of 0.6 percentage points (pp).

PHEVs have only witnessed one month of growth between January and May this year, according to Autovista24 calculations. The 35,565 units delivered to customers during that period was down 4.8%. The technology counted for 5.3% of the country’s total in the year to date, a drop of 0.3pp.

This PHEV decline detracted somewhat from the overall EV market figures. In May, the combination of BEVs and PHEVs saw growth of 63.3% to 45,063 units. This represented a 35.1% share in the month, a rise of 12.8pp.

The result kept plug-in models well ahead of their internal-combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. The powertrain grouping has firmly established itself in the French new-car market.

This is also reflected in the figures for the first five months of 2026. EVs saw 221,279 deliveries, an increase of 41.1%. The technology took a 33.1% share of the overall market, up 9.8pp, and some way ahead of ICE registrations.

France sees hybrid domination

Although BEVs were the best-performing powertrain in May and the year to date, hybrids still led the market.

However, the powertrain’s figures, made up of both full and mild variants, dipped 4.8% last month. The technology has been through a rollercoaster run in 2026, mixing some strong results with significant dips.

With 51,930 registrations in May, hybrids took a 40.4% hold of the overall total. Yet this was 3.6pp down compared to the same month of 2025, echoing a wider trend across the EU.

The figures from January to May were more positive. Thanks to a strong result in March, the hybrid market was able to keep growing, despite recent downturns. After five months, the powertrain recorded 304,838 deliveries, a 1% rise compared to 12 months prior. This was good enough for a 45.6% share, up 0.7pp.

Adding hybrids to the plug-in grouping meant electrified models dominated in May. With 96,993 units and an 18.1% volume increase, the technology took 75.5% of the market, up 9.2pp. After five months, electrified powertrains held a 78.7% share. Their 526,117-unit tally was up 14.7% against the same point in 2025.

Petrol and diesel continue to fade

While BEV uptake increases and hybrids continue to lead, traditional petrol and diesel powertrains are continuing to fade in France.

May’s 37.4% drop in volumes marked another major decrease for petrol registrations. Just 18,926 units made their way to customers, representing 14.7% of the market, down by 9.7pp.

Between January and May, 99,329 petrol models were registered, a 36.8% fall. This represented 57,771 fewer units compared to the same period last year. While petrol’s cumulative total breached the 100,000-unit barrier in April 2025, this year it will not do so until June.

Diesel, meanwhile, continues its decline. Just 3,292 units were registered in May, a fall of 52.5%. Diesel represented just 2.6% of total registrations in the month, down 3pp year on year.

Over the first five months of 2026, diesel’s decline was the steepest of all powertrains. With 17,192 units registered, volumes fell 45.9%. This left it with just 2.6% of the market, a fall of 2.1pp compared to the same period last year.

The future powertrain picture for France?

The continued decline of petrol and diesel meant the ICE market saw a 40.2% drop in volumes during May. In total, 22,218 units hit French roads, a drop of 14,925 models year on year. This meant the ICE market took a 17.3% share of overall registrations in the month, a fall of 12.7pp.

Between January and May, ICE deliveries declined by 38.3% with 72,331 fewer units moved. With a 17.4% market share, the 116,521 units delivered in the five-month period represented a fall from grace for the technology.

Whether France can build on May’s positive result remains to be seen. With petrol and diesel fading fast, hybrids stuttering and PHEVs failing to find their feet, BEVs play a pivotal role.

New social leasing plans will help the all-electric technology grow further, but could create a reliance on one powertrain. The situation is working for now, but the French new-car market remains balanced on a knife edge.

Monthly Market Update: New-car list prices and residual value impacts

Residual values (RVs) continued to normalise in Europe’s major used-car markets during May. But how does this relate to new-car list prices? Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker explores the latest trends.

The downward RV trend across Europe’s major used-car markets showed no signs of stopping in May.

RVs as a percentage of retained list price (%RV) after 36 months and 60,000km fell year-on-year across all observed markets. This includes Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Furthermore, this decline is expected to continue into 2027 and 2028 for all markets, except Italy.

However, as %RVs followed a uniform pattern across the seven observed countries, new-car list prices did as well. The metric rose year on year, placing further downward pressure on %RVs.

Soaring prices meet slumping values

The three countries with the biggest list price increases were the only ones to see absolute RVs rise. The most pointed example of this was seen in Switzerland. The market witnessed a 7.7% year-on-year increase in list prices to CHF 64,632 (€70,934). Meanwhile, absolute RVs also rose by 4.1% to CHF 27,014.3.

This RV metric saw an even bigger increase of 4.7% in Austria to €22,456.1. List prices grew to €48,190, up 6.3% compared to May 2025. Meanwhile, Spain observed a 4.6% rise in list prices, reaching €37,367, as absolute RVs climbed 2% to €20,357.7.

Conversely, Italy suffered the largest absolute RV drop, with a 6.3% slump year on year to €17,625.7. This was accompanied by the largest %RV decline across the observed markets. The metric plummeted by 3.7 percentage points (pp) to 44.4%. Meanwhile, list prices increased by 1.6%.

The UK endured the second-largest fall in %RVs, down 3.2pp to 47.6%. Absolute RVs in the country also fell by 4.5%, as list prices grew by 1.9%. France and Germany suffered a decline in both %RVs and absolute RVs, too, alongside rising list prices. However, these changes were more marginal.

Austria’s ongoing value retention pressure

Pricing dynamics softened further in Austria during May. The average trade RV of 36‑month‑old cars at 60,000km declined slightly to €22,456.1. This was down 0.6% month on month, but still 4.7% higher year on year.

‘In May, %RVs fell to 46.6%. Compared to the previous month, this represented a 0.3pp decline and translated to a 0.7pp drop year on year. This highlighted ongoing pressure on value retention,’ said Robert Madas, regional head of valuations.

Full hybrids (HEVs) retained the highest trade value at 50.2%, followed by petrol cars at 49%. Then came diesel models with 46.8% and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with 43.8%. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) improved by 0.8pp compared to April but still held the lowest %RV once again at 39.3%.

The RV outlook remains broadly unchanged. %RVs are forecast to decline gradually over the coming years as supply normalises further. A 0.6% year-on-year decline is forecasted in December 2026, followed by a 0.7% decrease in December 2027.

Slight RV decline in France

‘In France, %RVs decreased slightly in May compared to April. This was mainly driven by PHEVs and BEVs. It is also worth noting that there was a marginally less expensive basket this month,’ noted Ludovic Percier, senior RV analyst for France.

Absolute values of petrol-powered cars dropped slightly compared to April, as they held value well until the middle of 2025. Meanwhile, other powertrains experienced larger decreases. Petrol is still offered as a new vehicle by many manufacturers, while diesel engines are becoming rarer.

‘Diesel-powered cars saw %RVs almost stabilise compared to last month. This is because people are still demanding diesel vehicles on the used-car market. Meanwhile, companies have switched from diesel models to BEVs and PHEVs over the last couple of years. This means the number of new diesel registrations has shrunk,’ said Percier.

HEVs recorded a month-on-month increase in absolute RVs in May. The result was caused by increasing petrol prices and more premium HEV offers on the used-car market. This could be seen in May with a more expensive basket.

Overall, used HEVs remain in demand in France, but carmakers cannot risk adding large price premiums to these models. This would jeopardise their value retention.

Unbalanced offer and demand for PHEVs

‘PHEVs continued to see RVs fall as the supply and demand on the used-car market remained unbalanced. The already established situation continues to impact used-car prices, after many vehicles in previous years were sold to fleets on the back of fiscal advantages,’ explained Percier.

Combined with a high list price on the new-car market, this explains the low RVs. PHEVs offering an electric-only range of below 60km have been most affected. The technology recorded the second-lowest %RVs in May, retaining 47.1% of its list price after three years and 60,000km on average.

BEV %RVs also decreased in May. All-electric models held 35.2% of their value, compared to the 50.1% retention recorded in the overall market.

‘The technology is evolving quickly, now offering higher ranges compared to older models from three years ago. Furthermore, the social leasing scheme for new cars is not helping used-car sales. This is because people can get great deals on new BEVs instead of buying the ones available on the used-car market,’ highlighted Percier.

‘Larger segments will be increasingly impacted in the future, as company and fleet vehicle users benefit from fiscal advantages. These vehicles will come to the used-car market in early 2028,’ he projected.

Mixed market in Germany

Overall, the German used‑car market showed a mixed picture in May, with continued pressure on RVs. After slight price decreases in April, pricing dynamics also remained under pressure last month. The average trade RV of a 36‑month‑old car at 60,000km declined to €21,091.5. This was down 1.1% month on month and 1.7% lower year on year.

‘In retention terms, %RVs fell to 46.1%. This marked a 0.2pp decline compared to April and a more pronounced 1.7pp drop against May 2025. The result highlighted continued weakening in value retention,’ stated Madas.

List prices also softened further, averaging €45,786 in May. This represented a 0.7% month‑on‑month decline. However, prices remained 1.9% higher than a year earlier, which still provided some support to absolute RV levels.

By powertrain, petrol cars continued to lead with a %RV of 47.5%, followed closely by diesel at 47.3% and HEVs at 46.9%. PHEVs held on to 42% of their value, while BEVs remained with the lowest %RV at 36.9%. This remained in line with the powertrain gap observed throughout 2025.

‘Looking ahead, gradual downward pressure on %RVs is still expected as supply normalises further,’ forecasted Madas.

By the end of 2026, %RVs are projected to decline by 1.9% compared with December 2025. Pressure is predicted to ease somewhat in 2027, with a smaller decline of 0.9% expected. This indicates ongoing RV strain, driven by recovering supply, normalising demand, and elevated list prices.

Slowdown in Italy

‘Over the past months, the Italian used-car market has shown signs of a slowdown. This forms part of a negative trend that has been observed in recent years,’ outlined Marco Pasquetti, cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

Trade %RVs declined by just 0.2pp in May compared to the previous month. However, they remain significantly lower than a year ago.

‘Our analyses indicate that the decline will continue in the coming months, albeit at a progressively lower intensity. The trend suggests a gradual move toward a stabilisation phase. We estimate that the market needs approximately one more year to reach a new equilibrium, with normalisation expected by 2028,’ said Pasquetti.

For certain powertrains, particularly PHEVs and BEVs, this process already appears to be underway. Following a period of sharp corrections, the pace of %RV decline has eased considerably.

‘Compared to April, PHEVs recorded a decrease of 0.3pp, while BEVs remained broadly stable at 28.3%. Considering these dynamics, the 2026 RV outlook has been revised. A year-end decline of 2.8% for PHEVs and 0.9% for BEVs compared to December 2025 is forecast,’ projected Pasquetti.

A different picture emerged for HEVs, which experienced a more pronounced decline than expected. The technology suffered a 4.7pp year-on-year %RV drop and a 0.5pp fall compared to April. Despite this, HEVs remain one of the most resilient powertrains in terms of RV retention.

Spain’s growing interest in electrification

‘Spain’s automotive market maintained a positive trend throughout April. Passenger car registrations increased by 8.5% compared to the same month in 2025, once again surpassing the 100,000-unit mark,’ commented Ana Azofra, regional head of valuations and insights.

This growth continues to be boosted by electric vehicles (EVs), including BEVs and PHEVs. The powertrain group saw a 42.6% rise in registrations during April. In the first four months of the year, BEV and PHEV models accounted for 21% of total registrations, up 6.3pp year on year.

Across sales channels, growth was widespread. The private channel saw the best improvement of 11.2%, followed by companies up 9.2% and rentals up 3.7%. Overall, new-vehicle deliveries continue to reflect a still dynamic demand environment across the sector. As in previous months, this growing interest in electrification is also evident in the used-car market.

Regarding used-car transaction prices, absolute RVs recorded a slight fall of 0.8%. This meant, on average, the metric stood at €20,357.7 for a three-year-old used car at 60,000km.

‘Petrol vehicles followed a similar trend, while diesel models showed a steeper drop of 1.4%. This latter result reflected softer demand for this type of powertrain, which can be linked to rising fuel prices. However, the impact is milder in Spain than in other markets, thanks to government subsidies covering part of fuel costs,’ highlighted Azofra.

‘HEVs showed the same trend as the overall market in May, with BEVs following a similar pattern. However, PHEVs saw a 1.4% decline compared with the previous month. This was more influenced by lower-priced models entering the used-vehicle supply and sales mix than by a price adjustment,’ she noted.

Stable used-car market in Switzerland

The Swiss used‑car market showed signs of stabilising in May when it came to absolute RVs and value retention. After another decrease in April, %RVs showed a modest recovery in May.

‘The average %RV of a 36‑month‑old car at 60,000km increased to 41.8%, representing a 0.4pp rise month on month. Nevertheless, compared with May 2025, %RVs were 1.5pp lower, highlighting that underlying depreciation pressure remains significant,’ said Madas.

In absolute terms, trade RVs rose to CHF 27,014.3, up 1.8% month on month and 4.1% higher year on year. This was supported by continued increases in new‑car pricing.

‘List prices climbed to CHF 64,632, representing a 0.7% month‑on‑month increase and a 7.7% rise year on year. This reinforced the upward price environment,’ stated Madas.

HEVs retained the most value of any powertrain in May by far at 46.6%. Then came petrol-powered cars at 43.1%, diesel-powered models at 41.2% and PHEVs at 39.8%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain despite some recovery from April, holding only 36% of their original list price.

Looking ahead, the residual‑value outlook remains unchanged. %RVs are expected to decline gradually as the market continues to normalise. %RVs are forecast to decrease further in the coming years, but at a slower pace. By the end of 2026, %RVs are expected to fall by 1.5% compared to December 2025. A further year-on-year drop of 0.5% is anticipated in 2027.

UK’s varied powertrain performance

‘The UK’s used car market demonstrated consistency in May. The average %RV of a three-year-old car remained broadly level at 47.6% of list price, up 0.1pp from April,’ said Jayson Whittington, regional head of valuations for the UK.

May’s dashboard shows a big variation in powertrain performance. Petrol cars improved, with %RVs rising 0.4pp month on month to 49.1% of list price. Diesel values softened, with RVs falling 2pp to 56.3%. Even after the drop, diesel retained the highest %RV in May.

Meanwhile, electrified technologies saw mixed results. HEVs were stable, edging down 0.1pp to 51.6%. PHEVs weakened by 0.6pp to 43.9%. BEVs dipped 0.3pp to 34.4% and were 3.1pp down compared to May 2025. This reflects the growing volume of BEVs entering used car channels.

Year on year, the market was lower across most fuels, with overall %RVs down 3.2pp. The exception was diesel, which was up 3.3pp versus last May.

‘Recent wholesale activity suggests trading conditions are beginning to slow, likely increasing inventory and leading to a gentle easing in RVs, which is typical behaviour as we approach the summer months,’ concluded Whittington.

Which countries are leading the global EV charging race?

With increasing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads, the need for more public charging infrastructure will only grow. But which country is currently leading the way? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores the data.

With data from 75 markets, EV Volumes provides insights into the global expansion of public EV charging infrastructure. This covers the number of locations a particular connector type can be found, more accurately reflecting the variety of chargers.

For example, a station with two CCS plugs equates to one location. However, one CCS connector and one CHAdeMO connector would count as two locations.

By this metric, there were 4,821,516 public charging stations around the world in May 2026. This marked an increase of 25.2% compared with May 2025, signalling a continued slowdown in the pace of infrastructure expansion.

Following an 81.8% leap in May 2023, the rate of new public infrastructure installation has slowed. May 2024 saw a year-on-year jump of 42.6%, followed by a smaller 34.8% hop in May 2025.

Fast and normal charging

Since 2021, fast chargers have accounted for an increasing share of available public infrastructure. These DC plugs usually offer between 50kW and 60kW outputs with reserves for upgrades, EV Volume states. Connectors include CCS, CHAdeMo and GB/T in China.

As of May 2026, fast chargers made up half of all public stations recorded by EV Volumes. This figure has climbed steadily since late 2021, eating into the share of normal chargers. Including type 1 and 2 points with an output up to 43kW, these predominantly AC stations took a 49.8% share.

Meanwhile, ultra-fast chargers have seen their marginal share fall slightly since late 2023. Capable of providing up to 350kW of power, these DC points include Ionity infrastructure, Tesla Superchargers and Fastned.

As EVs feature larger batteries and more capable charging technology, drivers expect to spend less time plugged in. This accounts for the growing proportion of fast chargers and shrinking share of normal plug-in points.

However, many EVs on the road are not capable of ultra-fast charging, which is generally a feature of higher-end models. Furthermore, the infrastructure can also be more expensive to install and use. But which countries have seen the greatest deployment of charging stations?

China’s charging capacity

China currently accounts for 83.1% of global public EV charging infrastructure, according to EV Volumes data. With 4,005,618 stations recorded in May 2026, the country saw a 28% increase compared with May 2025.

This expansion makes sense given the size of China’s EV market. In the first quarter of 2026, 52.9% of all plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were sold in the country. China even accounted for 43.5% of all battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the same period.

However, the country’s new EV market has struggled recently, and the rate of charging station installations is also slowing. While figures were up recently, the growth was behind the 40.2% year-on-year increase in May 2025. A year prior to this, there was an 48.6% increase, with a 110% jump in May 2023.

Late last year, China’s National Energy Administration revealed a three-year plan to double EV charging capacity by 2027, electrive reported. This plan looks to provide over 300GWh of public charging capacity.

A European leader

After China, the country with the next largest volume of public charging stations was the Netherlands, accounting for 2.7% of plug-in points. With 131,207 plug-in points tallied, it was ahead of larger new EV markets like Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Within the EU’s Fit for 55 package, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation directs the rollout of public charging points. Since 2024, it has defined minimum national charging requirements to support the uptake of alternative-fuelled vehicles.

More broadly across Europe, 524,923 stations were counted by EV Volumes. This was up by 15.7%, compared with May 2025. While this lags behind China, it still reflects a more positive trajectory for the region.

In May 2025, the acceleration of installation was only up by 14.2% year on year. The year before that, it was up by 28% and 40.6% in May 2023.

US public charging challenge

According to EV Volumes, South Korea recorded 126,002 public charging stations, accounting for 2.6% of the global total. This put the East Asian nation third globally.

Some way behind it in fourth came the US, accounting for 1.8% of all plug-in points, with 88,050 stations tallied. This equated to year-on-year growth of 7.7%, slower than the 13.4% recorded in May 2025. Meanwhile, May 2024 saw public charging stations grow by 19.1%.

Sales of new EVs look to be slowing in the country. BEV sales were down by 25.7% in the first quarter of the year, while PHEVs saw a 55.5% drop. Recent policy changes have softened the EV share in the country. With National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program funds available again, states can carry out infrastructure plans, Reuters reports.

While some new EV markets have fluctuated, models already on the roads require public charging infrastructure. If the number of stations stays stagnant, it is unlikely to inspire confidence in those considering an electric vehicle.

The Automotive Update: Carmakers achieving triple-digit new-car market growth in the EU

As the EU new-car market grows, three carmakers are seeing their shares expand rapidly. But how has this growth impacted incumbent players? Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker speaks with editor Tom Geggus in the latest podcast episode.

The brand dynamic within the EU new-car market continues to shift in 2026, with further registration growth in April.

Some of the biggest carmaker groups recorded year-on-year improvements in new-car deliveries. However, market share movements do not reflect this across the board. Meanwhile, newer marques are responsible for an increasing amount of registrations.

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Leapmotor leaps forward

One such example is Leapmotor, which accounted for 0.8% of all new-car deliveries in the EU during April. This was up 0.6 percentage points (pp) year on year.

The dramatic leap was due to the brand’s 407.6% registrations surge last month. An even greater rise of 558.8% was recorded between January and April, with 28,709 new models taking to the road. This made Leapmotor the fastest-growing brand in the EU, in both the monthly and cumulative figures presented by ACEA.

Two other carmakers are seeing their grip on the market tighten at an even faster rate. Chery Automobile, including Chery, Jaecoo, Jetour and Omoda, claimed a 1.3% share across the first four months of the year. This was up 0.9pp compared to 12 months prior, thanks to a 267.1% registrations rise.

Chery Automobile saw a steeper climb of 1.1pp to a 1.5% share in April alone, after a similar delivery increase. Despite a smaller year-on-year improvement of 116.6%, BYD also achieved a 1.1pp share surge last month to 2.1%. The same rise was recorded cumulatively, with BYD taking a 1.9% slice of the new-car market, up from 0.8%.

Non-European brand growth

Further standout performances were seen from other non-European brands. Tesla managed a 67.2% growth rate in April as its market share rose from 0.6% to 0.9%.

SAIC Motor posted a 24.6% delivery improvement last month. The brand accounted for 2.2% of overall volumes, up 0.3pp year on year. On a smaller share of 0.5%, Honda recorded a similar increase of 22.7% in April. Mazda saw a slightly stronger rise of 28.2% last month, as its slice of the market widened to 1.1%.

So, while based on relatively smaller shares, many non-European brands are making gains across the bloc. But how has this affected some of the region’s biggest automotive groups?

A saving grace for Stellantis?

Stellantis’ market share has remained broadly stable, despite its year-on-year delivery growth. The group accounted for 16.4% of overall deliveries in April, up 0.1pp, with a 5.5% registrations rise to 159,147 units.

A greater rise in the cumulative figures also provided the group with a bigger jump in market share. Stellantis’ deliveries grew by 7.8%, while its share was up 0.6pp to 17.1%.

Two of the group’s brands played an important part in both results. Fiat saw deliveries soar by 32.6% in the year to date. Meanwhile, Opel, branded as Vauxhall in the UK, saw a registration increase of 22%.

Meanwhile, Stellantis’ two largest-volume brands, Peugeot and Citroen, have seen contrasting fortunes so far in 2026. The former experienced a 4.9% drop in deliveries between January and April, while the latter enjoyed a 9.9% rise. However, both were aligned in April, with a 2.8% improvement for Peugeot and a 3.5% increase for Citroën.

This came as other Stellantis brands endured sharp declines. Alfa Romeo and DS saw deliveries slump by 34.7% and 24.6%, respectively.

Growth for Skoda and Audi

Volkswagen (VW) Group also relied on two brands to pull deliveries forward, according to ACEA data. Skoda and Audi saw a 10.6% and 13.6% surge in registrations, respectively.

VW Group recorded a 3.2% growth in April, reaching 266,139 units. However, with other brands making rapid inroads in the market, its share fell by 0.5pp to 27.4%.

In the first four months of 2026, VW Group’s grip also loosened by 0.4pp to 26.7%. This was despite a 2.9% delivery increase compared to the same period last year, with 1,013,771 units. The figures were again helped by strong Skoda and Audi performances. Registrations rose by 15.5% for the former and 8.6% for the latter.

Meanwhile, VW, the best-selling brand in the EU new-car market, suffered a slowdown. Deliveries dipped by 2.7% in April and 3.2% in the cumulative figures. Cupra also endured a tough April with a 4.3% decline, as fellow Spanish carmaker SEAT achieved a 6.3% increase.

Other big automotive groups decline

While Stellantis and VW managed growth in the EU, the same could not be said for other automotive groups.

Renault Group faced a 4.3% year-on-year decline in April to 98,055 units. In turn, its share loosened by 1pp to 10.1%. This trend accelerated to a 7.4% registration drop in the first four months of the year. The company’s market hold thinned by 1.3pp in this period to 10.1%.

Its cumulative result was propelled by a 15.3% slump for Dacia models, as the Renault brand felt a shallower decline.

Toyota Group posted a 1.8% fall in registrations during April, as its share went from 7.3% to 6.8%. This was caused by a decline in both the Toyota and Lexus brands. The group suffered a 2.5% drop across the first four months of the year.

Kia and MINI prevent steeper fall

Hyundai Group also recorded a decline in April, with deliveries down 2.5% compared to 12 months prior. Consequently, its share shrank by 0.6pp to 7.3%. The result was based upon two counteracting forces.

Kia enjoyed a 6.1% growth in registrations last month. However, with both brands posting similar figures, Hyundai’s 10.6% slump eroded Kia’s improvement. The same trend occurred between January and April, with Hyundai Group suffering a 3.1% fall year on year as a result.

Meanwhile, MINI was BMW Group’s shining light, with a 7.9% increase in deliveries last month. Yet this was not quite enough to overturn a 1.8% drop recorded by the BMW brand.

This resulted in a 0.4% downturn for the group, as it made up 6.8% of the market, down 0.4pp. However, with growth across both marques, its cumulative registrations rose by 3.9%.

Nearly identical growth was seen at Mercedes-Benz, with a 3.8% improvement in the first four months of 2026. Despite this, its share remained stable at 4.8%.

Geely Group, including its Geely, Geely‑Emgrand, LEVC, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Smart, Volvo Cars, and Zeekr brands, also saw stagnation. It accounted for 2.7% of overall volumes in April, down 0.1pp year on year, as deliveries rose by just 0.4%.

Incumbent players struggling

Other incumbent players in the EU new-car market did not enjoy year-on-year gains. JLR, labelled by ACEA as Jaguar Land Rover Group, suffered a 20.4% delivery drop in April. This meant it represented 0.4% of overall volumes, down 0.2pp. Meanwhile, Ford felt a 17% delivery decline, as its share slumped by 0.6pp to 2.4%.

Nissan posted a 6% fall in registrations during April compared to 12 months prior, as its share fell by 0.1pp to 1.4%. Suzuki suffered a steeper slump of 13.7% last month, making up 1.2% of overall volumes, down 0.2pp year on year. Mitsubishi saw a 56.1% drop. The carmaker captured 0.2% of total deliveries, down 0.3pp from one year ago.

Another month of EU new-car market growth spurred by EVs

Propelled by consumer demand, the EU’s new-car market grew again in April. Additionally, the bloc is seeing increased electric vehicle (EV) uptake, disrupting the powertrain dynamic. Autovista24 content specialist James Roberts investigates the latest data.

In April 972,314 new passenger cars took to the EU’s roads, according to the latest data from ACEA. This marked a 5.1% year-on-year improvement, and a third consecutive month of registrations growth. Overall, 17 of the 27 member states witnessed new-car market expansion.

‘The market continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for a range of electrified technologies. This was supported by new and revised tax benefits and incentive schemes across major European countries,’ ACEA said in a statement.

New hybrids, incorporating both full and mild hybrids, continued to be popular in April. However, EV registrations, comprising battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), also increased. Their popularity meant the plug-in market share overtook that of internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars for the first time this year.

After the first four months of 2026, a total of 3,794,280 new vehicles left EU forecourts, a 4.2% year-on-year uplift.

Growth for three big EU markets

In April, three of the EU’s biggest new-car markets enjoyed success. Germany, the bloc’s largest automotive marketplace, witnessed a modest 2.7% growth. Spain saw registrations climb by 8.4%, and Italy enjoyed a double-digit lift at 11.6%. However, France ended April in negative territory, with new-car volumes down by 0.3% year on year.

Outside of the EU’s big four, Poland continued to see robust growth. Aided by strong PHEV demand, the country saw new-car volumes increase by 10.3% overall. Similarly, Austria witnessed a 10.7% rise, maintaining its strong start to 2026.

The largest year-on-year registration growth came in Estonia. A total of 1,914 registrations gave the Baltic State a 78% volume increase. This is a significant turnaround for a nation whose market struggled in 2025.

EV demand remains vibrant in EU

April saw EV deliveries reach the second-highest monthly total so far this year. Combined BEV and PHEV registrations reached 295,682 units, up by 30% year on year.

This resulted in a monthly EV market share of 30.4%, a new high point, and an increase of 5.8 percentage points (pp) on one year prior. Spanning January to April, the plug-in sector hit a share of 29.3%, up by 6pp.

In April, BEV registrations in the EU increased by 37.7%, enabling a 20.6% market share, up 4.9pp. Of the largest markets, Italy enjoyed bumper BEV uptake in April. The country signalled a 98.8% year-on-year increase in volumes, with 13,199 new all-electric vehicles delivered. This came despite some industry concern regarding potential market fragility.

Overall, the EU’s largest markets saw continued EV uptake. Following a trailblazing 2025, Spain’s affiliation with all-electric motoring looks set to continue this year. April saw BEV registrations soar by 42.8% year on year, and PHEVs were up by 42.3%. This was despite some uncertainty over the status of new national EV incentives. Germany enjoyed a 41.3% all-electric increase in registrations. The result came as new EV incentives were formalised.

Amid overall new-car market stasis, France recorded an encouraging BEV delivery uplift in April, amounting to 41.8%. Aided by domestic options, such as the Renault 5 and Citroën e-C3, plus appealing incentives, this sector could be key to wider prosperity in 2026.

Smaller markets turning to BEVs

In total, 25 of the 27 EU member states witnessed year-on-year BEV volume improvements. Seven markets even recorded triple-digit percentage growth.

Continuing to impress, Croatia managed the largest BEV registration increase. The Balkan nation saw all-electric registrations jump by 450%, with 330 units accounted for in April. Alongside this, PHEV volumes increased by 158.5%.

Both Ireland and Hungary saw BEV registrations exceed four figures in April. This helped carve out a year-on-year boost of 105.2% and 101.7%, respectively. Slovenia also saw notable electrification, with BEV totals reaching 1,038 units in April, up 159.5% year on year.

PHEV popularity petering out?

While BEV uptake across the EU continued to plough a positive furrow, PHEV demand painted a more mixed picture. Overall, 16 EU member states saw year-on-year plug-in hybrid increases.

In total, 95,565 new PHEVs joined the EU’s car parc in April. Despite a 16.4% year-on-year registrations uplift, the powertrain’s market share reached 9.8%, up just 1pp compared with 12 months prior.

Across the first four months of the year, new PHEV deliveries increased by 26% year on year. However, the powertrain’s market share equated to just 9.6%, up 1.7pp. With BEV fortunes on the up, this trend could hint at a tipping point towards full electrification for some EU new-car buyers.

Hybrid highs hold for now

In April, a total of 359,056 new hybrid vehicles were registered in the EU, according to ACEA. This resulted in the second-highest monthly total of 2026, plus a year-on-year increase of 12%. The result helped solidify the powertrain’s place as the bloc’s most popular new-car choice.

Between January and April, hybrid power accounted for 38.2% of the market, up 2.9pp. This meant 1,447,864 units with the powertrain were delivered. Combined with new BEV and PHEV totals, new electrified passenger cars made up 67.4% of all registrations four months into the year. This was an 8.8pp surge.

Notably, the cumulative hybrid market share has decreased 0.4pp since January. While this may appear marginal, it suggests that a turn towards BEVs as a new-car option across the EU could be taking share away. Whether it is enough to satisfy wider decarbonisation targets remains to be seen.

Story of ICE decline continues

ICE registrations, comprising petrol and diesel models, once again declined in April. Overall, four nations saw year-on-year petrol registration improvements, and seven witnessed diesel demand increase.

In total, 292,467 new ICE vehicles left EU forecourts, down by 16.5% year on year. This dropped the market share to 30.1% for the month, down 7.7pp. This put ICE 0.3pp below the plug-in market share, a new development for 2026.

After four months of the year, the ICE market share sat at 30.2%. This remained 0.9pp above plug-in volumes. With robust EV registrations prevailing across the EU, how long will it be before the gap is eroded?

Amid the continued shift towards electrified powertrains, petrol appeal remains relatively solid. April saw 218,485 new cars reach EU customers. Despite a 16.3% year-on-year volume fall, the fuel type accounted for 22.5% of the overall market. This was 1.9pp ahead of BEVs.

As petrol hangs on, diesel continued to fall away in April. In total, 73,982 new vehicles were registered, equating to a year-on-year slide of 17.1% and a market share of 7.6%.

Four months into 2026, diesel captured 7.7% of the EU new-car market. Notably, despite the continued drop off in demand, it only saw a fall of 1.9pp year on year.

Will US new-vehicle retail turn a corner in May?

A seven-month run of negative new-vehicle retail results in the US is expected to be broken in May. The latest automotive forecast for JD Power reveals what can be anticipated from the market this month.

Total new-vehicle sales, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,490,900 units in May. This equates to a 5.8% year-on-year increase and a 1.9% incline without adjusting for the number of selling days.

The seasonally-adjusted annualised rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 16.3 million units. This is up 0.7 million units compared with 12 months ago.

New-vehicle retail sales for May 2026 are projected to reach 1,231,900 units, a 6% year-on-year increase. Without adjusting for the number of selling days, this means a 2.1% increase. The SAAR for retail new-vehicle sales is expected to be 13.6 million units, up 0.6 million units.

Positive retail expectations amid headwinds

‘May results reinforce the underlying strong demand for new vehicles’, said Thomas King, president of OEM solutions at JD Power. However, the last three months have seen skewed year-on-year comparisons. This is because of last year’s consumer reaction to the perceived risk of higher prices from vehicle tariffs.

Sales in March and April 2025 were inflated as consumers rushed to showrooms, pulling their purchases forward. But this was paid back in May, with an estimated 63,000 sales moved into the preceding months.

‘This payback effect makes for a flattering year-on-year comparison, but in no way diminishes the impressive sales pace,’ King said. Retail volume is on pace to expand 6% even as buyers continue to navigate elevated payments and persistent affordability headwinds.

Structural affordability pressures

‘Financing conditions are moving in consumers’ favour, but it is not enough to fully offset structural affordability pressure,’ King commented.

The average interest rate on new-vehicle loans is expected to fall 0.47 percentage points (pp) to 6.59%. This would be the lowest May reading in two years. Meanwhile, the average transaction price is effectively flat at $46,023 (€39,548), down 0.2% from a year ago. Even with those tailwinds, average monthly finance payments are climbing 2.8% to $810.

Buyers who purchased at peak prices several years ago, when inventory constraints were severe, are now returning to the market with weaker equity positions. The proportion of trade-ins carrying negative equity has reached 30.4%, up 2.9pp year on year.

Manufacturer discounts

In response, manufacturers are increasing discounts. Average incentive spending per vehicle is trending towards $3,297, a 20.7% increase from a year ago.

However, this is also a product of lapping the tariff payback. There were unseasonal pullbacks in incentive spending last May as manufacturers reduced discounts precautionarily to offset tariff costs.

Incentives as a percentage of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price are expected to hit 6.4%, up 1pp from May 2025. For non‑electric vehicles, average incentive spending per vehicle is trending towards $2,973, a 23.6% increase from a year ago.

Incentive spending on electric vehicles (EVs) remains materially higher. This level is expected to reach $10,308 per unit, up 11.2% from last year. This continues to underscore the role of discounting in supporting EV demand.

Hybrids claim larger retail share

Consumers are using longer loan terms to manage monthly payment affordability. 13.4% of loans now have terms of 84 months or longer, to help fill in part of the affordability gap.

The combination of elevated fuel prices and increased availability of hybrid powertrains is driving a shift in the sales mix. The hybrid share of retail sales has climbed to 16.3%, up 1.6pp. In contrast, the EV share softened to 7% due to the elimination of federal credits.

Volume growth despite flat transaction prices means that total retail consumer expenditure is projected to rise to $54.5 billion. This equates to an increase of $1.1 billion from May 2025.

Lease penetration continues to recover from the post-pandemic drought. 22.6% of buyers are expected to lease in May, up 0.3pp from a year ago. This provides manufacturers with a useful tool to manage monthly payment challenges.

JD Power-GlobalData Forecast June 2026

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