What were the key talking points from SMMT Electrified 2026? Plus, a look at Renault’s new strategy and major robotaxi collaborations. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus presents the latest Automotive Update podcast.
Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry joins the Automotive Update from SMMT Electrified 2026 in London. Plus, a dive into Renault Group’s plan to drive growth in the run up to 2030. Also, a look at which companies will work with Wayve on new autonomous vehicle technology.
SMMT Electrified 2026 focuses on the UK automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and other zero-emission technologies.
Among a wide range of topics, this year’s event focused in on key policies that could shape EV production and demand in the UK. This included the ZEV mandate, which SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said requires an ‘urgent review.’ This is due to the domestic EV market not reaching its full growth potential, he explained.
Subsequently, industry figures called for further ZEV mandate clarity at the event. Patrick McGillycuddy, managing director at JLR UK, highlighted customer confusion. This uncertainty has been exacerbated by the looming pay-per-mile EV charge. Meanwhile, Lisa Brankin, Ford UK chair and managing director, pointed out that carmakers are facing challenges in meeting the ZEV target.
Renault’s new era
Renault Group has announced ‘futuREady’, its new strategic plan. Central to the initiative is an aim to sell over two million cars by 2030. These targets will be enabled by the launch of 36 new models.
In Europe, the Renault brand will launch 12 models spanning the A and B segments, as well as new models in the C and D segments. International markets will see 14 new vehicles launched by the brand between now and 2030.
Elsewhere within Renault Group, Dacia plans to electrify two-thirds of its sales in 2030. The brand will also look to increase the number of EVs in its range from one to four. Meanwhile, Alpine will launch the next generation of its A110, as well as building on the A290 and the A390.
François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, stated: ‘futuREady, our new strategic plan, is a crucial step in the future of Renault Group. In an environment that is even more competitive, we can build on solid fundamentals: our brands, our products and our financial results.’
Wayve hello to new autonomous collaborations
UK-based autonomous driving company Wayve has announced a new robotaxi collaboration with Uber and Nissan. The trio hope to launch a pilot in Tokyo later this year. The project will integrate Wayve’s AI autonomous driving system into a Nissan base vehicle. This will then be connected with Uber’s ride-hailing platform.
Elsewhere, Wayve will also work with Qualcomm on a pre-integrated advanced driver-assistance and automated driving system for carmakers. This will provide support for entry-level hands-off driving assistance, as well as for eyes-off automated driving.
Residual values (RVs), presented as a percentage of retained new-car list price (%RV), kept sliding in Europe during February. But is this descent slowing, and what comes next? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus unpacks the data with regional experts.
The average retained value of a 36-month-old car at 60,000km dipped again across many European used-car markets. In February, Austria, Germany and Switzerland saw new lows compared with the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, France and Spain saw lower value retention rates in January. At the start of 2026, Italy and the UK saw %RVs above rates recorded in December and August 2025, respectively.
Both France and Spain saw a marginal month-on-month %RV improvement. Meanwhile, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK recorded declines compared with January 2026.
The downward trend is much more visible when comparing February 2026 with February 2025. All markets saw %RVs decline, with Italy performing the worst. Values dropped to 45.5%, down by 4.1 percentage points (pp) in the country.
While this appears drastic, trade values are still undergoing a process of normalisation following inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with 2021, all markets continue to see higher levels of value retention.
Switzerland was the closest to its position five years ago, with values only 1.1pp higher. Three-year-old used cars in Germany continue to see higher levels, 4.5pp above where they were in 2021.
%RVs are expected to keep falling across these markets in the next three years. Italy is the only exception, which is forecast to see a marginal increase by the end of 2028. By the same point, France and the UK are expected to see the largest %RV declines of the seven markets.
Austria’s subdued market
Austria’s sales‑volume index (SVI) for two‑to‑four‑year‑old passenger cars recovered significantly in February. After a traditionally weak January, the SVI increased by 52.9% month on month. However, the SVI remained down compared to February 2025, with the index dropping 7.6% year on year.
The active‑market volume index (AMVI) also witnessed a slight bounce back. It rose by 1.4% month on month, while stock levels were 4% higher year on year. This indicates a well‑supplied market and a modest build‑up compared to 2025.
‘Turnover slowed again in February,’ stated Robert Madas, regional head of valuations. ‘The average time needed to sell a used car increased to 76.7 days. This marks a three‑day deterioration compared with January and a year-on-year increase of 1.5 days. This underlined subdued retail activity, despite improved sales volumes.’
Diesel models took the lead in turnover speed, taking an average of 71.5 days to sell. This was followed by petrol cars taking an average of 74.4 days to sell. Then came full hybrids (HEVs) at 78.3 and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 87.9 days. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to take the longest time to sell at 88.7 days.
RVs soften in February
Looking at pricing, the average RV of a 36‑month‑old car at 60,000km softened in February. The average trade RV reached €22,623, down 0.6% month on month.
%RVs in Austria declined to 47.1%, down 0.7 percentage points (pp) compared to January. Year on year, %RVs decreased by 1.4pp, reflecting continued downward pressure on used‑car values amid rising supply and normalising demand. List prices remained high, averaging €47,987 in February, a slight 0.8% increase month on month.
HEVs retained the highest trade value at 50.2%, followed by petrol cars at 49.3%. Then came diesel models with 48% and PHEVs with 43.9%. BEVs held the lowest %RV once again, at 38.8%. However, this was a slight improvement of 0.2pp month on month.
‘Looking ahead, %RVs are expected to decline slightly in the next few years,’ said Madas. ‘In December 2026, a 0.6% year-on-year decline is forecast. A 0.7% decrease in 2027 is expected to follow.
‘This points to a slow but persistent downward %RV trend in the coming years. This is consistent with a rebalancing market environment and ongoing supply normalisation,’ he highlighted.
France sees stability
RVs continued to be stable in France during February. Some powertrains saw slight month-on-month increases, although this was mainly due to a value drop in January. However, February’s results were stable compared with December 2025.
Petrol saw %RVs after 36 months and 60,000km increase compared with January. Yet they fell compared with December. Recent %RV declines for petrol have been minor as the fuel type holds its value better than other powertrains.
‘Many manufacturers offer petrol variants while diesel has become rarer,’ commented Ludovic Percier, senior RV analyst for France. ‘However, diesel has seen less impact, even managing to record %RV increases compared with January.’
HEVs saw stability in February, but their %RVs were below December’s results. This continues a declining value retention trend seen in recent months. This can be attributed to the increasing number of HEVs offered in France, most of which are from mainstream brands.
These models do hold value as well as Toyota’s HEVs. Three of the top five fastest-selling HEVs came from the Japanese brand. Used HEVs are in demand, but carmakers cannot risk adding big price premiums at the expense of RVs.
Supporting EV RVs
Used BEVs and PHEVs took the longest time to sell in France. However, RVs can be supported by newer models with increased ranges. While %RVs increased month on month for both powertrains, they fell compared with December.
PHEV demand and supply remain imbalanced. In previous years, many of these vehicles were sold to fleets on the back of fiscal advantages. They came with excessive new-car market list prices, explaining the lower RVs. Models offering an electric-only range of below 60km have been the most affected.
Higher-priced BEVs with longer driving range have seen larger absolute RVs and more stable %RVs. Lower segments with lower list prices and smaller ranges have been impacted by the environmental bonus and social leasing scheme.
‘Meanwhile, upper segments have not yet been impacted by fiscal fleet advantages,’ Percier added. ‘Those vehicles will come to the used-car market in early 2028.’
BEVs spent 85.5 days in stock on average, compared with the market average of 67.2, which is also high. The Tesla Model 3 was still the quickest to sell, while the Model Y was the third-fastest-selling used BEV. They remain in demand as their new prices drop once again.
Demand rebounds in Germany
Used‑car demand in Germany rebounded significantly in February after the seasonal downturn seen at the start of the year. The SVI jumped to 143, representing a 43% month‑on‑month increase. Despite this strong recovery, the SVI was down 13.7% year-on-year, as demand remained below last year’s level.
Supply conditions also improved. The AMVI rose slightly by 1.1% from January. Year on year, stock availability was 22.6% higher, confirming a continued and substantial rebuild of used‑car supply.
‘The average number of days needed to sell a used car increased to 68.3 days. This was a noticeable deterioration of 3.3 days month on month and year on year,’ highlighted Madas.
Looking at powertrain performance, BEVs were the fastest-selling technology, taking 61.6 days to leave forecourts. Then came PHEVs at 62.4 days. HEVs followed at 63.2 days, while diesel-powered vehicles took 69.9 days to sell. Petrol-powered cars sold the slowest, at 70.9 days.
Renewed pressure on RVs
RVs came under renewed pressure in February. The average %RV of 36‑month‑old cars at 60,000km declined slightly to 46.8%. This was down 0.1pp month on month and 0.9pp year on year.
In contrast, absolute trade values increased slightly to €21,855, a 1% improvement from January. This was supported by the continued rise in list prices, which climbed to €46,664. This was up 1.1% compared to January and up 4.2% year on year.
By powertrain, petrol-powered cars continued to lead with a %RV of 48.3%, followed closely by diesel at 48.2% and HEVs at 47.5%. PHEVs held on to 44.1% of their value, while BEVs remained the lowest at 37.1%, maintaining the gap observed throughout 2025.
Looking ahead, RVs are expected to remain under pressure, in line with previous forecasts. By the end of 2026, %RVs are projected to decline by 1.4% 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,’ Madas outlined.
Values fall in Italy
‘As expected, RVs continued to decline in Italy during February, in line with the trend observed in 2025,’ said Marco Pasquetti, cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.
%RVs after 36 months and 60,000km stood at 45.5%. This corresponds to a decrease of 0.7pp compared to January and a drop of 4.1pp year on year. There are no signs of this trend reversing, with the downward trajectory likely to persist throughout 2026. By December, %RVs can be expected to decline by 6.2% overall.
There were no surprises across the various powertrains. All of them saw proportionally consistent declines in line with the overall market trend. Diesel, although declining, remained the technology with the best retention of list price value at 50.1%.
In terms of volume, it also continues to be in high demand on the used‑car market. This is likely due to signals from some manufacturers that they are considering reinvesting in these engines, including Stellantis.
The average time required to sell a used vehicle on major online marketplaces improved compared to January 2026 and February 2025. In particular, the year-on-year improvement is notably positive for BEV and PHEV vehicles. If this trend continues, it could indicate a slowdown in the decline of RVs for these powertrains.
Bad start for Spain’s used-car market
New-car sales in Spain began 2026 with a slight increase of 1% compared to January 2025. Electric vehicles (EVs), including BEVs and PHEVs, showed strong momentum.
Sales of these powertrains increased by nearly 50% as they represented over a fifth of the new-car market. By channel, private buyers and companies recorded significant declines. Only rental companies saw their registrations increase, up by 63.5%.
These rent-a-car renewals have returned a significant volume of young used vehicles to the market. This made it the only channel to record positive results compared with January 2025.
‘Overall, the start of the year has not been good for used-car sales, which fell by 9%,’ noted Ana Azofra, head of valuations and insights for Spain.
‘BEVs and PHEVs continue to gain share, benefitting from growing demand for electrified alternatives,’ she added. ‘This increased interest is reflected in the evolution of average transaction prices, with increases across all electrified powertrains.’
Average absolute RVs of 36-month-old BEVs and PHEVs at 60,000km saw month-on-month increases of 5.3% and 8%, respectively. Only petrol vehicles suffered a slight month-on-month decrease in their average absolute RV, down 0.5%.
Although the overall situation is positive, used cars saw a longer turnover rate compared with January 2026 and February 2025. The only exception was BEVs, which sold 13.3 days faster than 12 months ago. Despite this, the powertrain still took the longest time to sell.
The model with the best rotation times in February was the Dacia Sandero, with an average rotation of 42.4 days. Then came the Volkswagen T-Roc with 51.2 days, and the Toyota Corolla with 53.5 days.
Switzerland sees weaker RVs
Used‑car demand in Switzerland made a good recovery in February. The SVI surged by 48.5% month on month. Despite this rebound, demand remained 2.1% lower year on year, indicating continued pressure compared to early 2025.
Supply conditions softened slightly. The AMVI fell by 2.3% month on month but remained 5% above last year’s level. This confirms that stock availability is still higher than in early 2025 despite the temporary dip.
‘%RVs weakened in February,’ Madas commented. ‘The average %RV of a 36‑month‑old car at 60,000km dropped to 41.7%, down 0.8pp month on month and 2.9pp year on year. This underlines the ongoing depreciation pressure in the Swiss used‑car market.’
In absolute terms, trade RVs decreased slightly to CHF 26,501 (€29,062), a 0.9% month‑on‑month decline. Yet, this was still 0.9% higher year on year.
List prices continued to rise, averaging CHF 63,610, representing a 1.2% increase month on month and an 8.1% rise year on year. This ongoing inflation in list prices helps support absolute used‑car values, even with falling %RVs.
HEVs still on a high
HEVs retained the most value of any powertrain in February by far at 46.7%. Then came petrol-powered cars at 43.2%, diesel-powered models at 41.5% and PHEVs at 39.7%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing technology, holding only 35.5% of their original list price.
The average time to sell a used car increased marginally in February, rising to 77.9 days. This was 0.4 days slower month on month, but still a strong 4.3‑day improvement year on year. This reflects better turnover conditions than in early 2025.
HEVs sold fastest at 69.4 days, followed by BEVs at 75 days. This was followed by diesel cars at 77.2 days and petrol-powered models at 78.6 days. PHEVs which took 82 days to leave forecourts.
Looking ahead, %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 1.4% compared to December 2025. A further 0.5% drop is anticipated in 2027.
UK sees strong growth
‘The UK’s used-car market recorded strong growth in February 2026,’ commented Jayson Whittington, regional head of valuations for the UK. ‘Overall, there was a clear upswing in sales momentum, led by electrified powertrains. However, pricing pressures remained evident across most fuel types.’
All fuel types posted positive month-on-month SVI gains. On average, the metric was up by 25% across all powertrains, highlighting broad demand.
BEVs led the market with a 29.8% rise, closely followed by PHEVs at 29.6%. HEVs recorded a 26.3% increase, reflecting strong consumer interest in electrified choices.
Petrol models performed well with a 24.8% month-on-month increase, driven by continued affordability and availability. Diesel, while posting the lowest rise at 16.1%, still demonstrated strong growth for a fuel type facing long-term declines.
Despite the uplift in retail activity, the overall time taken to sell a used vehicle increased by 2.7 days to 46 days. BEVs once again led the way, taking an average of 37.4 days to sell. They were supported by fast-turning models, including the Tesla Model Y at 22.6 days and the Volvo C40 at 23.7 days.
%RVs of 36-month-old cars at 60,000km were more mixed. Month on month, the overall %RVs slipped 0.8pp to 49.1%. The value retention of petrol-powered cars fell by 0.8pp as well, to 50.5%. Meanwhile, PHEV %RVs softened by 1.1pp to 46.2%. HEVs declined marginally by 0.2pp to 53.2%. BEVs saw the steepest drop, by 1.6pp to 35.2%. Diesel was the only segment to improve, rising by 1.7pp to 57.4%.
As BYD began 2026 with soaring sales in the EU’s new-car market, other carmakers faced mixed fortunes. This came as the region saw declining registration results. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, takes a look at January’s winners and losers.
As new-car sales dropped in the EU during January, the picture for carmakers proved more nuanced. As some established brands recorded losses, other newer entrants enjoyed success, shaking up the established order.
BYD certainly bucked the overall trend. The Chinese marque saw deliveries surge by 175.3% year on year to 13,982 units, according to ACEA. This gave the carmaker a 1.7% share of the EU new-car market, up by 1.1 percentage points (pp) compared to January 2025.
The brand is looking to double its points of sale in Europe to 2,000 this year, according to Reuters. BYD is targeting 350 distribution partners in Germany by the end of 2026, Handelsblatt wrote.
BYD also recorded higher volumes than the likes of Mini, Mazda, Honda, Lancia and Alpine. While claiming smaller market shares than BYD, these brands all enjoyed growth in January as well. However, none of them recorded triple-digit growth.
Mercedes-Benz also recorded improvements. It managed a 4% boost to 36,074 units. Its hold of the new-car market grew by 0.3 percentage points (pp) to 4.5%.
Strong start for Stellantis brands
As a group, Stellantis posted year-on-year growth, recording 145,750 sales last month. This ensured a 9.1% increase on 12 months prior, while its market share rose from 16.1% to 18.2%. The carmaker recently announced that it is reintroducing diesel versions of some of its models in Europe, Reuters reported.
Fiat, including the Abarth brand, recorded the group’s highest growth rate. The Italian marque witnessed a 31.3% uptick in volumes to 28,992 units. Combined Opel and Vauxhall figures grew by 17% year on year to 24,575 units. Citroen and Peugeot recorded rises of 9.6% and 0.5% respectively.
The combined deliveries of Lancia and Chrysler saw a significant rise compared to January 2025. However, the 21.9% surge was based on a much smaller total of 1,282 units. Alfa Romeo and DS weighed on the overall group’s performance. Both brands suffered a 13.8% decline in January.
Brands struggling in the EU
On the other side of the coin, Renault Group endured a sales fall of 16.7% to 75,243 units. The carmaker accounted for 9.4% of overall volumes, down 1.5pp year on year.
This was mostly due to a decline in Dacia deliveries, with the carmaker’s 29,165-unit total down 36.7% year-on-year. The marque trailed the Renault brand by 16,319 sales. This compares to a 2,309-unit lead over the OEM’s namesake brand at the same point last year.
Conversely, the Renault brand posted a 3.9% improvement to 45,484 sales. Renault Group’s figure was further boosted by a 34.4% surge in deliveries of Alpine models. However, this was based on a smaller volume of 594 units.
Kia and Hyundai contributed relatively evenly to their group’s result in January, shifting 28,393 units and 26,562 units, respectively. However, their performance compared to 12 months ago was vastly different. While Kia’s total equated to a 5.9% fall, sales of Hyundai models plummeted by 22.4%.
Japanese carmakers fall behind
Toyota and Lexus were also unable to escape declines last month. Their wider manufacturing group posted a 14.3% slump, with 61,572 deliveries. The OEM represented 7.7% of overall volumes, down 0.9pp year on year.
Suzuki faced a 14.6% delivery drop to 10,876 units, as its share slipped from 1.5% to 1.4%. Nissan suffered a 16.2% drop to 14,399 units, as its share fell by 0.3pp to 1.8%.
Meanwhile, Volvo Cars suffered a 13.6% drop to 15,877 units. Yet its market share fell by only 0.2pp to 2%. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) felt a 12.5% decline in January. However, its total was based on lower volumes relative to other OEMs. Its hold on the new-car market went from 0.6% to 0.5%.
Deliveries of Land Rover models decreased by 9.1% year-on-year, but the group’s poor performance was mostly due to Jaguar. According to ACEA, the brand recorded no sales in January. The marque’s first model since its polarising rebrand in 2024 is expected to be revealed this year, ABC News reported.
VW’s stagnant EU sales
VW Group faced a 3.7% sales decline in January to 219,708 units. Despite this, the OEM continued to lead Europe’s new-car market, with a 27.5% share, up 0.1pp year on year.
The drop was softened by Skoda’s 10.7% uptick to 57,619 deliveries during the month. However, this was not enough to make up for significant losses endured by the VW brand and Cupra. The group’s namesake saw sales fall by 10.6% to 85,841 units, while Cupra endured an 11.6% slump to 15,746 sales.
The latter’s Tavascan model has been exempted from EU import duties, in line with an accepted minimum import price. It was the first car to be approved following the publication of the European Commission’s guidelines.
Audi and SEAT did not help matters, with 1.9% and 1.5% declines, respectively. However, it was Porsche that felt the biggest drop in the VW Group. The premium carmaker recorded a 14.6% slide on a relatively lower total of 5,285 deliveries.
BMW Group saw sales slip by 3.3% last month. Its 53,456-unit total translates to a 6.7% market share. The group’s namesake brand alone suffered a 6.4% fall to 45,031 deliveries. Meanwhile, Mini enjoyed a 17.4% surge in volumes, albeit on a smaller 8,425-unit total.
Tesla saw a minimal drop in January. The electric-only brand posted a 1.6% decline to 7,187 deliveries, as its 0.9% share remained stable from January 2025. Additionally, SAIC Motor had an even smaller drop of 0.8%, with 13,790 units and a 1.7% share.
With mixed fortunes in new-car registrations, did used-car transactions in Europe’s big five automotive markets provide some relief last year? Autovista24 special content editor, Phil Curry, examines the latest data.
Used-car transactions in Spain, Italy, the UK, France, and Germany all saw growth in 2025, just at varying rates. Some markets may be more concerned than others, however, as 2026 progresses.
The results suggest that buyer demand remains high. Volumes continued to outpace those in the respective new-car markets. However, for three of the five countries, used-car growth was lower than registration results.
Where reported, the figures also show internal-combustion engines (ICE) continue to dominate, contrasting with new-car market trends. Buyers appear to be turning to used cars, as supplies into new channels dwindle.
Spain leads used-car growth
Just like its new-car market, the used-car sector in Spain was the fastest growing in Europe’s big five last year. The country saw 2,163,260 transactions across 2025, according to Autovista24 calculations based on monthly data from GANVAM. This was an increase of 4.4% compared to figures from 2024.
Spain’s used-car market did not have as smooth a 2025 as its new-car sector, however. Declines in April, May and November pulled figures back. However, the year finished strong, giving the country a good starting point for 2026.
The fourth quarter of the year saw 614,872 transactions, a rise of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024. October saw a 4.4% rise, with 210,332 used cars changing hands, according to Autovista24 analysis. However, November’s sales dipped by 1.1% to 187,208 transactions.
But the market bounced back in December, as 217,332 used cars made their way to customers. This was the best monthly volume of the year and represented a 9.9% year-on-year rise. With November’s decline, the only low point in the last half, transactions increased by 5.8% to 1,125,521 sales.
A problem with age
According to GANVAM, fleet renewal remains a challenge. Sales of three-to-five-year-old models increased by 8.8% across 2025. Transactions of models over 10 years old improved at a slower rate of 4.6% between January and December. Yet they accounted for 57.3% of Spain’s used-car total. This means that the average age of a used car sold in the country was 11 years old.
Therefore, GANVAM and fellow Spanish industry body Falconauto are calling for an effective scrappage incentive strategy. This would help remove older, more polluting models from Spanish roads. By tying scrappage into the activation of subsidies for the purchase of new electric vehicles (EVs), this process could be accelerated.
Diesel remains on top
Diesel transactions fell by 0.8% across 2025, according to GANVAM. However, it was still the most popular powertrain in the used-car market, making up 49.9% of transactions. Petrol was responsible for 36.3% of sales, with volumes increasing by 2.3%.
The volume of hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) only accounted for a small percentage of the market. However, these transactions increased rapidly. BEVs saw an improvement of 53.3% year on year, making up 1.3% of total transactions.
By age, newer models were the best-sellers when it came to BEV transactions. Those models less than a year old represented 26% of all-electric sales in the year. Models between one and three years of age accounted for 32.1% of those sold. Meanwhile, PHEVs saw growth of 43.7% compared to 2024, with a 2% market share.
Used-car market stronger in Italy
Italy’s used-car market ended 2025 as the second-fastest growing of Europe’s big five. This was contrasted with its new-car market, which struggled throughout the year.
According to industry association ANFIA, a total of 5,648,961 transactions took place between January and December. This was up 3.3% compared to 2024, equating to an extra 181,029 sales, according to Autovista24 calculations.
Only one month in the year saw a decline in used-car transactions, with May recording a dip of 3.9%. This was not enough to dent the market’s progress, with September’s 10.5% jump.
The fourth quarter of the year proved steady, with a 1.6% rise in cars changing hands. A total of 1,505,900 transactions took place between October and December. This meant a better-performing second half of 2025, with a 3.6% rise in sales.
October saw 552,410 deliveries, an increase of 1.8% compared to the same period in 2024. November was the second-worst performing month of the year, with 470,157 transactions resulting in a 0.3% increase. December saw 483,333 used-car sales take place. This was good enough for a 2.7% rise compared to 12 months prior.
Further growth for UK
The UK’s used-car market ended 2025 with a flourish, as figures improved for the third consecutive year.
In total, 7,807,872 used cars changed hands between January and December, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2024. The latest figures from the SMMT show growth in each quarter of the year, as buyers continued to turn to older cars to meet their needs.
Just February and November saw dips, down 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. These results did little to impact the overall market, however.
A total of 1,769,501 transactions took place between October and December, a year-on-year rise of 1.3%. October was the strongest month of the three in terms of volume, with 674,801 sales and a 0.8% increase. November saw a 0.2% decline as 606,182 models changed hands.
While representing the lowest transactions of the year, December’s 488,518 total was a rise of 4.1%. This was the second-largest volume increase after March’s 6.9% rise.
These results meant the second half of the year saw an improvement of 2.1%, just 0.1pp lower than the result between January and June.
Petrol leads the way
Petrol increased its transaction volume in 2025, with 1.5% more sales taking place. In total, 4,430,901 units changed hands in the 12-month period. This gave the powertrain a 56.7% market share.
Meanwhile, diesel fell 3.3% year on year to 2,586,279 transactions. The fuel type represented 33.1% of total sales in 2025. This performance came in stark contrast to the new-car market, where diesel registrations fell 15.6% with just 103,906 deliveries taking place.
This could be due to a decline in the availability of diesel cars, rather than demand. As supply into the used-car market falls, the high used-diesel sales may be contributing to the country’s ageing car parc.
The figures show that interest in the internal-combustion engine (ICE) market is far from over. In total, 89.9% of transactions in 2025 were petrol or diesel-powered models.
EVs increase their presence
However, the strongest growth came from full-hybrid (HEV) and BEV powertrains. With more supply into the used-car market, electrified deliveries are continuing to improve.
HEVs saw 407,531 units sold in 2025, a rise of 33.1%. They gained a 5.2% market share in the 12-month period. Meanwhile, BEVs saw 274,815 models changing hands, a rise of 45.9% year on year. This was good enough for a 3.5% share of total used-car transactions in the year.
PHEVs, however, declined by 4.4%, with just 88,032 transactions, making up 1.1% of sales. Electrified drives accounted for 9.9% of total sales in 2025. It is likely this growth will continue throughout 2026. More models will become available from the new-car market, increasing supply into used-car channels.
France falls flat
After a strong start in January, the French used-car market experienced a steady year in 2025, according to information from AAA Data. The high 7.7% year-on-year increase in the first month of the year was not beaten, although December’s 6% surge came closest.
Overall, results middled, with the market experiencing a small, 0.8% increase across the 12-month period. The fourth quarter saw a similar rise of 0.8%, as December’s strong result was reined in by declines in October and November.
In October, 483,743 used cars changed hands, resulting in a decline of 1.1%. This was followed by a 2% drop in November, with 423,704 transactions. December’s 6% rise was thanks to 452,149 sales.
This was enough to help used-car transactions in France limp over the line with growth. This was in contrast to the country’s new-car market, which fell by 6.1% last year.
According to AAA Data, the used-car market has been characterised by a shortage of newer models since the COVID-19 pandemic. Transactions of used cars under five years old declined by 7% in 2025, impacted by drops in new-car registrations. In total, 1,552,835 models in this age range changed hands.
However, cars over 10 years old saw sales jump by 6%, likely adding to the country’s increasing average car parc age. With 2,644,957 transactions, they made up the majority of used-car deliveries. Meanwhile, models aged between five and 10 years record 1,198,640 transactions, a 1% increase year on year.
ICE domination continues
While the electrification of the French used-car market continued, ICE models still dominated sales in 2025. According to AAA Data, diesel transactions fell by 4%, making up 45% of total deliveries in the year.
Meanwhile, petrol models recorded a 3% decline in the year, taking a 39% market share. This means ICE cars accounted for 84% of the country’s used-car total in 2025.
Used electric cars accounted for 3% of the market between January and December, with volumes rising 30%. Meanwhile, hybrid deliveries took 12% of the total.
Germany sees stable demand
Germany’s used-car market remained stable in 2025, helped by a strong result in December. This came after two months of decline that threatened to push the sector into a year-on-year loss.
In total, 6,512,427 used-car transactions took place in the year, according to the KBA. This was a rise of just 0.5% compared to 2024. Much like the country’s new-car market, transactions of used cars saw a rollercoaster year, with a equal number of monthly declines and increases.
The fourth quarter of 2025 saw sales rise by just 0.4%, with 1,560,389 transactions taking place according to Autovista24 calculations.
The quarter started with a 2.8% decline in October, as 558,790 passenger cars were sold. November also saw a drop in volumes of 3.2%. However, the market bounced back in December, with an 8.8% rise proving to be the strongest growth of the year. This was thanks to 485,953 transactions.
This boosted the second half of 2025 to an improvement of 0.7%, meaning Germany’s used-car market finished the year growing. However, the country will be hoping for more stability in transactions during 2026.
China’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market struggled in 2025, but could December’s results suggest a slowing battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the market and the best-selling models of 2025.
China’s electric vehicle (EV) market ended 2025 with growth. But the BEV and PHEV results in December suggest that 2026 could prove to be a difficult year.
In total, 8,097,866 BEVs were sold across 2025, a rise of 27.6% year on year, according to EV Volumes’ latest data. Meanwhile, 5,072,986 PHEVs made their way to customers in China, an increase of 4.2%.
A slowdown in the plug-in hybrid market across 2025 altered the powertrain dynamics in the country. During December alone, PHEV sales fell by 4.2%, with 558,513 units leaving dealerships. This was the sixth monthly decline in a row, according to the latest EV Volumes figures.
Yet the BEV market also slowed in December. With 788,471 units delivered, volumes increased by 4% year on year. This was the lowest growth since June 2024. This meant the combined EV market recorded 1,346,984 deliveries, a rise of just 0.5% compared to the same month in 2024.
So, BEVs accounted for 61.5% of all EV sales last year, an increase of 4.9 percentage points (pp). This meant PHEVs took 38.5% of the market, down from 43.4% a year prior. With PHEV sales in decline, the country’s EV market will be hoping December is not a precursor for what is to come.
China’s best-selling PHEV: the BYD Qin Plus
BYD dominated China’s slowing PHEV market in 2025. The carmaker placed seven models in the country’s top 10, however, only one of these achieved year-on-year growth.
The best-selling PHEV in China last year was the BYD Qin Plus. Having placed second in 2024, it jumped to the top of the chart with 281,413 sales in 2025. However, this was down by 17.6% compared to its volumes in the previous year. The result was good enough for a 5.5% market share, a drop of 1.5pp.
In December, the BYD Qin Plus topped the PHEV chart with 40,000 sales in the month. This was an increase of 31.1% compared to December 2024. The result was good enough for the model to achieve a 7.2% market share, up by 2pp.
In second place at the end of 2025 was the BYD Seal 6, which achieved 188,525 sales across 12 months. This was a 2.6% decline year on year, while its market share of 3.7% was down 0.3pp.
December saw the model suffer its worst volume result since it first recorded sales in May 2024. Just 6,111 units were sold, a 77.1% decline year on year. This left it in 27th position, while the Qin Plus increased its lead in the annual chart.
Changing times in China
Third in 2025 went to the BYD Song Pro as it recorded 180,661 sales. This was a drop of 28.3% year on year. The model took fourth in December, as 18,373 units made it to Chinese roads, a decline of 27.6%.
The Song Pro was helped in the annual chart by a terrible month for the fourth-placed BYD Song Plus. It ended December 44th in the monthly chart, with just 4,000 sales, an 88.3% volume decrease.
This was in stark contrast to its performance in Europe. Known in the region as the Seal U, it topped both December’s and the annual best-selling PHEV chart.
In China, the Song Plus achieved 166,764 deliveries between January and December. This was a decline of 51.4%, the worst percentage drop recorded in the PHEV top 10. Having won the title in 2024, its market share of 3.3% was down by 3.7pp.
The first non-BYD model was the Li Auto L6 in fifth. With 166,174 deliveries, it ended the year just 590 units behind the BYD Song Plus. However, its volumes were down by 13.6%. This gave the model a similar 3.3% market share. The L6 was helped by a ninth-place finish in December’s table, although the 12,334-unit tally was down by 55.6%.
Making their mark
The BYD Qin L recorded 162,817 sales across 2025. It was another BYD model to see sales drop, down by 29.1% year on year. In December, the model finished 13th with 10,000 sales.
The newest model in the 2025 top 10 was the Aito M8 in seventh. With sales first recorded in April 2025, it achieved a total of 148,934 deliveries, to grab a 2.9% market share. It was helped by a sixth-place finish in December, with 17,123 sales.
The BYD Song L took eighth. It was the only model from the brand in the top 10 to record growth. Furthermore, it was only one of two PHEVs in this list to see its sales increase at all. With 141,686 deliveries, it achieved a 16.5% improvement year on year. December saw the model finish eighth as well, with 13,000 deliveries, although this was down by 42.1%.
The BYD Destroyer 05 jumped to ninth, with 127,509 sales, a 40.5% decline. Having started the year strong, sales slipped from March onwards. Although the 123,137-unit total for 2025 was 496.7% up compared to 2024.
The Galaxy Starship 7 was not helped by a 32nd-place finish in December. Just 5,190 units were delivered, the model’s worst volume total since its launch. Having started the year strongly, declining fortunes across 2025 meant it finished 10th in the annual table.
New models fight for places
Many of the 2025 top 10 secured their place in the chart thanks to strong performances early in the year. But five different models made the table in December alone, suggesting 2026 could see more competition than ever.
Finishing second was the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7, with 34,086 deliveries. It was followed in third by the Aito M7, with 26,468 units delivered, a 97.3% year-on-year increase. Fifth went to the BYD Sea Lion 6, with 17,380 units sold. The BYD Seal 5 was seventh with 16,484 deliveries in just its third month on the market.
Rounding out December’s table was the WEY Gaoshan, with 10,846 sales. This was a record result for the model, which has been on the Chinese market since September 2023. It was also the second time it achieved a five-digit volume in its history, following another impressive performance in November.
China’s best-selling BEV: The Geely Geome Xingyuan
China’s best-selling BEV in 2025 was the Geely Geome Xingyuan. With 471,410 deliveries, it powered to the top spot in its first full year on sale. It comfortably beat 2024’s BEV leader, the Tesla Model Y, taking back the market for domestic brands. It achieved a 5.8% market share across 2025.
In December, the Geely Geome Xingyuan placed second with 41,619 deliveries, a rise of 152.4% year on year. This was good enough for a 5.3% market share, up 3.1pp.
Taking second in the annual table was the Wuling Mini, with 431,617 sales. This was an increase of 65.3% compared to 2024, while its 5.3% market share was up 1.2pp.
The model had a rollercoaster 2025, with strong results in the last months of the year. It topped monthly sales tables in September, October and November, helping it take second in 2025. This run ended in December, as the Mini placed sixth with 19,076 deliveries, down 49.5% year on year.
Rounding out the top three last year was the Tesla Model Y. After taking the best-selling BEV title in 2024, it slipped down the rankings with 425,337 sales, a drop of 11.4%. This meant its 5.3% market share was down by 2.3pp compared to 2024.
Yet the US BEV did claw back some of its gap to the second-placed Wuling Mini in December. It topped the monthly sales, with 65,874 units, a rise of 6.5%, in line with its usual end-of-quarter delivery peak. However, results earlier in the year left it battling the domestic brands across 2025.
BYD Seagull fails to fly
The BYD Seagull, which took second in 2024, fell to fourth place last year with 310,956 sales. This was a drop of 29.7%. It was responsible for 3.8% of all BEV deliveries in China last year, down from the 7% achieved in 2024. December was a difficult month for the Seagull, with 18,307 units taking to Chinese roads, a 62.5% decline.
The Xiaomi SU7 was the fifth-best-selling BEV in China last year, with 258,065 sales. This was an 85% increase compared to 2024, with a 1pp jump in market share to 3.2%. Its position was not helped by a 16th-place finish in December’s table, with 11,024 deliveries, its worst volume of the year.
In sixth was the BYD Yuan Up, with 217,814 deliveries between January and December. This was an increase of 61.5% compared to 12 months prior, bucking the trend of BYD declines. It achieved a 2.7% hold of China’s BEV total, a rise of 0.6pp. December saw the model finish in seventh, with 18,766 deliveries, a 1.2% rise.
The Tesla Model 3 ended 2025 in seventh with 200,361 units making their way to customers. This was an increase of 13.3% compared to 2024, although its market share fell 0.3pp to 2.5%. The US BEV was helped by a strong December, where it placed fourth with 27,969 sales. This was a 32.9% improvement on the year prior.
Strong positions despite poor results
The Xpeng M03 took eighth in 2025 with 177,150 units. This was a 264.7% rise against 2024’s figures. Its 2.2% market share was up from 0.8% the year before. The model had a steady year in 2025, although it placed 12th in December with 14,183 sales.
The Geely Panda Mini was the ninth-best-selling model of 2025, with 162,108 deliveries, an improvement of 23.2%. However, with increased competition, the model’s market share fell 0.1pp to 2%. This was despite placing just 54th in December’s sales chart, with 4,373 units, its lowest volume recorded in a month since January 2023.
However, this was not enough for the BYD Dolphin to take advantage. The model jumped into the annual top 10 with 160,745 sales, up by just 0.1%.
Ones to watch in 2026
Four models made December’s top 10 best-selling BEVs list, while not entering the yearly table. Leading this group was the Xiaomi YU7 in third, with 38,927 sales. The model has proven popular since its launch in June 2025.
The Nio ES8 achieved a record result, despite deliveries starting around March 2018. December saw the model record 20,354 sales, a 1,933.4% increase year on year. It was only the second time the ES8 had recorded five-figure deliveries after November’s tally.
Having started deliveries in August 2025, the ArcFox T1 made its top 10 debut in December, with 17,170 sales. This was good enough for ninth. Meanwhile, the Li Auto I6 took 10th with 16,080 deliveries in its fourth month on the market.
European deliveries of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) reached new highs in 2025. For both powertrains, however, the best-selling model did not hail from a domestic carmaker. Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker reveals the two EV champions.
Europe’s historic EV performance in 2025 was a joint effort between BEVs and PHEVs. Both technologies contributed to the continent’s record-breaking plug-in growth, with double-digit improvements of around 30% year on year.
BEVs enjoyed a 29.9% sales increase to 2,598,165 units, according to EV Volumes’ latest data. This was the powertrain’s biggest full-year percentage growth since 2021.
PHEVs saw a smaller volume of 1,283,160 units. However, this represented a steeper rise of 34.2% compared to 2024, the technology’s best year-on-year improvement in four years. The result marks a significant comeback for PHEVs, which suffered full-year declines in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
PHEV’s notable volume growth translated to a bigger slice of the EV market. Plug-in hybrids made up 33.1% of all new EV deliveries in Europe during 2025. This was an increase of 0.8 percentage points (pp) year on year, and 0.2pp ahead of its 2023 share.
While BEVs remained dominant, the powertrain’s share fell from 67.7% in 2024 to 66.9% in 2025.
BEV’s remarkable growth
All-electric cars witnessed a remarkable increase in deliveries during December, which gave the EV figures a final boost. Volumes surged by 52.3% year on year to 311,801 units.
This was the biggest percentage growth recorded since August 2023. The result also completed a 12-month run of consecutive double-digit improvements.
PHEV’s December was also impressive, with a total of 127,251 sales equating to a 40.1% increase year on year. This result displayed consistency, the determining factor in the technology outpacing new BEV growth in 2025.
PHEVs started the year poorly, with two declines in January and February. Since March, however, the powertrain recorded 10 double-digit gains, six of which surpassed the 40% mark. Meanwhile, BEVs only managed to clear this threshold in December.
New EV sales by country
Amid relatively balanced new BEV and PHEV growth, some countries saw their EV market shares surge, while others stalled. Within Europe’s new all-electric car market, Germany recorded the highest number of sales. 20.8% of BEVs sold in Europe last year were delivered in Germany, up 1.9pp year on year.
The UK, which led Europe’s BEV market in 2024, fell to second despite a double-digit improvement. It accounted for 18.2% of all BEV sales in Europe, down 0.9 pp.
Third was France, which saw a steeper share decline of 1.8pp to 13%. Norway finished fourth, enjoying the biggest year-on-year volume increase of any country in the top five. Sales soared by 50.7%, as its share rose by 0.9pp to 6.6%.
The Netherlands came fifth, with its market hold decreasing by 0.5pp to 6.1%, even with deliveries improving by 20.6%.
In the PHEV market, Germany also topped the standings, again helped by strong sales growth. Its share surged by 4.2pp to 24.2%. The UK followed with a 17.6% hold, stable from 2024.
After posting the sixth-highest new PHEV volumes in 2024, Spain jumped to third in the table, thanks to a 118.3% rise in sales. Consequently, its market share went from 6.1% to 10%.
France faced falling PHEV deliveries in fourth. This caused its share to slump, dropping from 15.2% in 2024 to 8.6% in 2025. Italy was fifth with a 7.6% market share, up 2.1pp year on year. The country witnessed an 85.7% uptick in PHEV sales during 2025.
Europe’s best-selling new EV revealed
While EV adoption speeds varied across European countries last year, one model emerged as a clear champion.
After taking the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Tesla Model Y was victorious in 2025. With 150,605 sales, the crossover was not only the best-selling BEV, but the best-selling EV overall. It captured 5.8% of the all-electric car market, and it sat 56,518 units ahead of its closest competitor.
Following its usual quarterly reporting pattern, the Model Y also dominated the BEV standings in December. This was thanks to 23,732 sales. However, despite its lead, its volume represented a 17.4% decline year on year.
This forms part of a waning trend for the Model Y in Europe. The crossover’s full-year sales total marked a drop of nearly 60,000 units compared to 2024. It also represented a loss of over 100,000 units from 2023.
Skoda’s new SUV secures second
Second place was claimed by the Skoda Elroq, which posted 94,087 units between January and December 2025. This was an impressive feat considering the compact SUV began series production in January 2025.
Sales showed no signs of slowing in December, with a best-ever monthly total of 12,645 units. This was enough to put it in second in the monthly BEV table.
The combined sales of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 took third in the full-year standings, with 90,770 units. Like the Skoda Elroq, European deliveries began in 2024, building into a record result in December 2025. The hatchbacks saw 11,903 deliveries during the month, up 86.4% year on year, securing third.
The Tesla Model 3 finished fourth in 2025, posting 86,612 sales. Unusually, the sedan ended the year with a delivery drop compared to November. This contradicts the BEV’s regular trend of recording higher sales at the end of the quarter. Yet, its 11,227-unit total was still enough for fourth in December, despite representing a 26.9% fall year on year.
Last-minute position changes
Fifth went to the Volkswagen (VW) ID.3, as it posted 78,899 deliveries in its fifth full year on the market. December was its highest volume month, with 8,451 new models leaving dealerships, its best figure since June 2024. This also equated to a 76.1% improvement year on year, putting it sixth in the monthly standings.
Just 576 units behind was the Skoda Enyaq, with 78,323 sales in 2025. Of this total, 7,437 units came in December alone, a 2.9% increase on 12 months prior and its highest monthly volume since March 2025. However, with other models seeing steeper growth in December, this was only enough for ninth place.
A further 335 units back was the VW ID.4, with 77,988 deliveries. Like many other BEVs, December marked a high point for the model in 2025. Its 8,565-unit total was its best since July 2023 and equated to a 57% rise on December 2024. It placed fifth in the monthly table, just ahead of its sibling, the ID.3.
Record results
Another all-electric offering from VW’s ID range secured eighth with 76,528 sales: the ID.7. It achieved a new monthly delivery record in December, with 8,359 units, up 49.2% year on year.
Overall, five VW Group models featured in Europe’s BEV best-sellers table in 2025. Additionally, Audi’s Q4 e-tron and Q6 e-tron models placed 11th and 12th.
BMW’s iX1 took ninth, with 67,618 deliveries. This was helped by a strong December, where the SUV placed seventh. A total of 8,423 new models left dealerships, its best-ever monthly figure and up 55.1% year on year.
The Kia EV3 rounded out the full-year standings in 10th, as the crossover SUV posted 66,350 sales in 2025. The model failed to make December’s table.
Instead, placing 10th in December was the Audi Q4 e-tron, with 7,180 sales. This was an increase of 19.6% year on year and meant five models from VW Group made the monthly top 10.
BYD’s new PHEV champion
Europe’s PHEV market crowned a new champion in 2025: the BYD Seal U. The SUV led the way with 66,611 sales from January to December, giving it a 5.2% share. It marked BYD’s maiden win in Europe, as the PHEV fended off strong competition from domestic models.
The model also topped December’s monthly standings, with 8,606 deliveries translating to a year-on-year increase of 213.9%.
Its closest rival, the VW Tiguan, was 6,109 units behind across the year, with 60,502 new models leaving dealerships in 2025. The model recorded 4,827 sales in December, an improvement of 28.5%.
Third went to the 2024 victor, the Volvo XC60, which recorded 58,979 deliveries. The PHEVs’ sales pace slowed in December, as it suffered a 6.5% decline to 5,981 units.
New sales trail off
Some distance behind in the full-year standings was the Ford Kuga in fourth, with 44,500 sales. This was still more than it achieved in 2024 when it placed second, highlighting the increased competition in Europe’s PHEV market.
Volumes trailed off in the final quarter of the year, culminating in a weak December. The Kuga delivered 2,722 units in the month, its lowest figure since May 2024.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC enjoyed a much stronger end to 2025, finishing in fifth with 39,373 units. It finished in the same place in December’s standings, with 4,576 deliveries. This was the fourth consecutive month where sales passed the 4,000-unit threshold.
Just one unit behind in the yearly table was the MG eHS. This was a lucky escape for the GLC, as the MG eHS stormed to second in December’s table with surging sales. Its 6,000-unit total was up 223.6% compared to 12 months prior. The result also marked the PHEV’s largest-ever monthly volume.
These moves came at the expense of the BMW X1, which took seventh in the full-year table. The model posted 39,226 units in the 12-month period. As its closest rivals placed highly in December, the SUV could only manage eighth. The X1 suffered a 19.5% year-on-year drop in the month to 3,083 units.
Jaecoo’s accelerating progress
The Toyota C-HR claimed eighth in 2025 with 35,356 units. In December, the PHEV enjoyed a 114.1% sales jump to 3,194 units. Taking ninth was the Jaecoo J7, thanks to 29,587 deliveries in 2025.
Strong monthly results towards the end of 2025 helped to accelerate its progress, including a sixth-place finish in December. Rounding out the yearly table was the Cupra Formentor, which took 10th. The PHEV posted 29,327 deliveries from January to December.
Key new EV market trends
This meant that the top 10 best-selling PHEVs in Europe last year were all SUVs. This contrasted with the BEV chart, which included other segments such as hatchbacks.
However, compared to the BEV best-sellers list, the PHEV top table featured a higher variety of brands. For the latter, 10 different carmakers filled the top 10 spots, while six marques placed in the BEV standings.
These trends could change by the end of this year, as new EVs continue to enter the market. Competition is set to increase as volumes grow further. This will make it harder for individual models and brands to solely dominate the BEV or PHEV standings.
Which new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models recorded the greatest sales volumes in 2025? How did regional dynamics dictate the best-seller tables? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus unpacks the data.
Following two years of global new PHEV sales growth outpacing all-electric cars, 2025 saw BEVs surge ahead. With 13,697,372 units taking to roads around the world, the powertrain recorded year-on-year delivery growth of 26.7%. This is according to the latest data from EV Volumes.
Meanwhile, PHEV deliveries slowed to an increase of 11.1%, down significantly from the 55.2% acceleration in 2024. Last year saw 7,217,499 plug-in hybrids making their way to customers.
Much of this came down to China’s slowing PHEV market. The country was responsible for 70.3% of the powertrain’s sales, meaning declining results impacted the global market. In contrast, Spain saw triple-digit sales growth for the technology, but it made up a far smaller global share of just 1.8%.
Between the two, the US made up 4.6% of the world’s PHEV market, with sales up 4.8%. Then came Germany with 62.5% growth and a 4.3% share. The UK had the fourth largest PHEV market, accounting for 3.1% of sales globally. The country saw deliveries increase by 34.5%.
The slowdown was highlighted by an increase in December’s global volumes of just 0.9%, as 758,073 sales were recorded.
BEVs bounce ahead
In contrast, China saw its BEV market pick up speed last year, with growth reaching 27.6%. Despite a smaller portion of global sales compared to PHEVs, it still dominated global deliveries at 59.1%.
This was still far ahead of the next biggest market, the US, which saw sales fall by 3.9%. In total, 8.7% of all-electric car sales took place in the country.
Germany followed with 4% of the global BEV market as sales increased by 43%. The UK was 0.5 percentage points (pp) behind with a 3.5% share as sales increased by 24.2%. France saw all-electric sales increase by 13.6% as it made up 2.5% of all-electric deliveries.
In December, BEVs managed a global increase of 12.4%, as 1,376,827 units made their way to customers.
Best-selling BEV: Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y was the world’s best-selling BEV of 2025. With new variants and designs launched, it was the only electric vehicle (EV) to exceed the one-million delivery mark. In total, 1,085,521 units made their way to customers as it retained the market lead it has held since 2022.
However, within an increasingly competitive space, the model saw its sales fall by 7.5% year on year. This meant its market share shrank from 10.9% in 2024 to 7.9% last year.
Most of the Model Y’s sales in 2025 took place in China. Given the country’s greater EV market development, this should come as little surprise. However, the US was only 9.2pp behind, with 30% of the model’s overall sales taking place there.
Behind these two formidable markets came South Korea, Turkey and Canada, representing 4.6%, 2.9% and 2.6% of the BEV’s sales.
The Tesla Model Y was helped by a strong December. 129,650 units were sold in the month, boosted by its traditional quarterly reporting period. This was, however, 4.3% down year on year.
Tesla takes second as China dominates
The second-best-selling BEV last year had four things in common with the market leader. It was another Tesla, it saw updates in 2025, it retained its position from 2022 onwards, and its deliveries fell.
The Tesla Model 3 saw sales decline by 5.5% to 499,685 units in 2025. This meant its market share dropped by 1.3pp to 3.6%.
The Model 3 saw 40.1% of its sales take place in China. But once again, the US was only 9.1pp behind at 31%. The all-electric sedan saw positive uptake in the UK, with 3.1% of its deliveries occurring in the market.
In December, the Model 3 placed second thanks to Tesla’s quarterly reporting. It achieved 55,198 sales, a 5.6% dip year on year.
The Geely Geome Xingyuan, also known as the EX2 in some locations, ended the year in third. A relative newcomer in the BEV market, it first recorded sales in September 2024. It saw a marked increase of 800% to 473,948 units as its market share jumped by 3pp to 3.5%.
While the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 each recorded sales across more than 75 markets, the Xingyuan contrasted heavily. It only posted deliveries in four markets, China, Brazil, Mauritius and Colombia.
However, the latter three markets noted relatively minimal sales compared to China. It saw 99.5% if its sales take place domestically. The model is scheduled to enter major European markets in 2026.
The Geome Xingyuan saw 43,185 sales in December alone, as it increased volumes by 161.9% year on year. This capped an impressive first full year on sale for the Chinese BEV.
Eight Chinese BEVs in top 10
The Xingyuan began an avalanche of BEVs from Chinese carmakers. Eight of the top 10 in the best-sellers list came from the country.
The Wuling Mini was fourth as it saw sales climb by 65.3% to 431,779 units. This gave it a market share of 3.2%, up from 2.4% in 2024. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in some markets, took fifth. However, its sales fell by 13.3% to 409,550 units. This took its share down by 1.4pp to 3%.
The Xiaomi SU7 came sixth as its market share increased by 0.6pp to 1.9%. This was thanks to year-on-year sales growth of 85.3%, reaching 258,824 units.
With a similar 84.2% rate of growth, the BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, recorded 252,441 deliveries. Its share climbed by 0.5pp to 1.8%.
The BYD Dolphin saw a 4.6% rise in sales to 227,352 units. Even though this was a better volume than in 2024, greater competition meant the BEV saw its market share shrink. It accounted for 1.7% of all BEV deliveries, down from 2%.
The BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the Atto 3, saw sales decline by 33.7% to 225,133 units. This resulted in a 1.5pp decline in share to 1.6%. In 10th, the Xpeng M03 enjoyed a 264.7% sales increase to 177,150 units. Its grip on the market increased to 1.3% from 0.4% in 2024.
Best-selling PHEV: BYD Song Plus
While BYD was able to capture four of the top-10 best-selling BEV positions, it excelled in the PHEV market. In total, it claimed seven of the best-selling slots in the year, including first place.
The best-selling PHEV in 2025 was the BYD Song Plus, known in some markets as the Seal U. This extended its winning streak, after it claimed the title in 2024. Last year it recorded 328,094 sales, taking 4.5% of the market.
However, like the majority of BYD’s PHEVs in the top 10, it saw its deliveries fall compared with 2024. Its volumes declined by 9.8%, while its share was eroded by 1.1pp to 4.5%.
At 50.8%, the Song Plus saw over half of its sales take place in China. Single-digit shares were recorded in 49 other markets. This included Turkey, Mexico, the UK and Brazil, accounting for 7.8%, 7.5%, 6.3% and 5.5% of its sales respectively.
The end-of-year success came despite a fall in monthly performance. It ended December in fifth, with 22,226 units delivered, a 49.1% year-on-year decline.
Qin Plus takes second
In comparison, the Qin Plus was the second-most popular PHEV of 2025, but only recorded sales in 10 countries. China accounted for the vast majority of its deliveries at 96.2%. Globally, its volumes declined by 15.9% to 292,572 units. This meant it took a 4.1% market share, down 1.3pp.
The model still topped the PHEV chart in December, thanks to 40,818 deliveries, a 30.1% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
The BYD Song Pro took a marginally larger fall. Its share stumbled by 1.4pp to 3.2% as its sales decreased by 22% to 231,143 units. While China accounted for 78.2% of its sales, Brazil managed 10.5%, followed by Mexico at 4%. Highlighting the Song Pro’s struggles, it ended December in fourth, with its 24,070 sales down by 26.4%.
The BYD Seal 6 took fourth in the global PHEV top 10 at the end of 2025. Its sales increase by 3.1% to 206,136 units. This made it one of two BYD models in the top 10 to achieve this positivity. However, this was not enough to stop its market share from slipping. It accounted for 2.9% of all PHEV sales last year, down from 3.1%.
The first non-BYD model in the top 10 was the Li Auto L6 in fifth. It saw sales drop by 13.2% to 166,965, taking a 2.3% share, down 0.7pp. The BYD Qin L took sixth with a 2.3% grasp on the market. This reflected a drop of 1.2pp as sales slowed by 29.1% to 162,817 units.
The BYD Destroyer 05 took seventh in 2025 even as its deliveries dropped by 32.7% to 150,677 units. Its share also took a downturn, hitting 2.1% from 3.4% in 2024.
Share increases possible
The top seven highest-performing PHEVs in the world all saw their grip on the market weaken in 2025. However, this was not the case throughout the top 10.
After first recording sales in April 2025, the Aito M8 claimed a share of 2.1% with 148,934 deliveries. The BYD Song L came ninth, as its share increased to 2% from 1.9% in 2024. The model’s volumes increased by 16.8% to 142,301 units, the only other BYD to achieve this in 2025’s top 10.
The Galaxy Starship 7, also known as the Starray, first recorded sales in November 2024. Across 2025, its deliveries soared by 512.8% to 126,461 units. This meant its market share climbed by 1.5pp to 1.8%.
While the global PHEV market slowed in December, two models saw impressive performances in the last month of the year. The Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 ended the month second in the PHEV table. It saw 34,086 sales, accounting for 4.5% of the global total. Meanwhile, the Aito M7 placed third with 26,468 deliveries. This was a 97.3% year-on-year improvement, the best result in the top 10. This gave it a 3.5% market share, up from 1.8% recorded a year prior.
New electric vehicle (EV) sales in China continued to grow in 2025. Did a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) slowdown affect the country’s biggest brands? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the latest figures.
China’s EV market endured a challenging end to 2025, but finished the year with further growth. According to EV Volumes’ data, plug-in sales ended 2025 up by 17.5% year on year.
In total, 13,170,852 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs were delivered, an increase of 1,960,139 units.
However, this was down from the 34.3% growth recorded across the first half of 2025. Since then, China’s PHEV market has slowed, recording its first declines since February 2024. This impacted the share balance between the two electric powertrains.
BEVs ended 2025 with a 61.5% hold of the Chinese EV market. This was an improvement of 4.9 percentage points (pp) compared to 2024. Meanwhile, PHEVs fell to a 38.5% share.
The PHEV slowdown impacted EV results in the final quarter of the year. While BEV volumes increased by 4% between October and December, PHEV sales declined by 4.2%. This left the overall EV market with a 3.6% increase in the period, as 4,020,708 units made their way to customers.
BYD leads despite decline
BYD sold the largest volume of EVs in China during 2025. The carmaker achieved 3,170,489 sales across the 12-month period, with the market representing 79.9% of its total global deliveries. This equated to a dominant 24.1% market share in its domestic market.
Despite its comfortable lead, BYD had a troubled 2025. Overall sales were down 9.9% compared to the previous year, as the brand increased its focus on global exports. The carmaker’s market share fell by 7.3pp compared to 2024.
Yet, BYD’s BEV deliveries grew by 2.8%. This was led by the Seagull with 310,956 deliveries. The model made up 9.8% of BYD’s EV sales and was the carmaker’s most popular. PHEVs made up 52.8% of BYD’s sales in China. However, its deliveries of the technology declined 18.9% year on year, despite the marque’s popularity in the market.
The BYD Qin Plus was BYD’s second-best-selling model of the year, and its leading PHEV. It achieved 8.9% of the brand’s sales between January and December. Following this was the Yuan Up BEV, with 6.9% of BYD’s total. The Seal 6 and Song Pro, both PHEVs, accounted for 5.9% and 5.7% of deliveries, respectively.
BYD may be hoping for a stronger 2026. Despite its dominant position in the PHEV market, other carmakers saw impressive figures across the year. The carmaker would need a catastrophic period of results to see its 15.2pp market share lead wiped out. Yet competitors are clearly maintaining momentum at present.
Geely impresses in China
One of the most improved carmakers in China during 2025 was Geely. The marque took second place in China’s EV market, thanks to the performance of its Geely and Galaxy models.
In total, 1,177,257 plug-in models made their way to customers across the year, an improvement of 156.8% compared to 2024. The carmaker was the only other brand to sell over one million models. Geely’s market share more than doubled last year, up 4.8pp to reach 8.9%.
Geely owes this record-breaking performance to its prowess in the BEV market. All-electric sales accounted for 66.9% of the carmaker’s total. The Geome Xingyuan was comfortably the brand’s best-selling model, making up 40% of Geely’s total sales. With deliveries only starting in September 2024, this was quite an achievement.
The brand’s second and third best-selling models were also BEVs. The Geely Panda Mini took 13.8% of the carmaker’s overall total, while the Galaxy E5 held 10.6%.
These models helped Geely to increase its BEV volume by 156.8% in the year, directly matching its overall EV improvement. Meanwhile, the marque’s PHEV sales grew by 156.8% compared to 2024.
In the last quarter of the year, Geely saw a 63.5% increase in sales, as 340,955 units made it to China’s roads. This was enough for an 8.5% market share, up 3.1pp.
Wuling bets on BEVs
The third biggest EV seller in China last year was Wuling, incorporating Baojung models. With 897,582 sales, it saw volumes rise by 33.3% year on year. This was good enough for a 6.8% share of China’s EV total, a rise of 0.8pp.
Wuling was driven by BEV sales in 2025. The technology represented 93.7% of the manufacturer’s deliveries, while its top seven best-sellers were all-electric models. The brand’s dominant leader was the Wuling Mini, which contributed to 48.1% of sales.
The BEV’s 431,617-unit total was almost three times higher than the Wuling Bingo in second, with 147,841 units. This was enough for a 16.5% hold of the carmaker’s total.
Wuling’s BEV sales increased 40.7% year-on-year. This came at the expense of its PHEV market, however, which experienced a 25.1% decline. The carmaker’s best-selling PHEV was the Xingguang S, with 18,518 sales, placing eighth in the brand’s best-sellers list.
Tesla struggles in China
After a third-place finish in 2024, Tesla slipped to fourth in China’s EV top-sellers list, ending the year with 626,498 sales. This was a drop of 4.9% year on year.
The US carmaker recorded a 4.8% share of the market, down by 1.1pp compared to 2024. While Tesla suffered declines in both halves of 2025, its second half of the year was stronger. The marque’s 6.5% drop from January to June reduced to a 3.7% dip from July to December.
Leapmotor placed fifth, with 530,891 sales. This was an 85.7% increase compared to 2024, and gave the brand a 4% market share, up 1.5pp. The Leapmotor C10 led its sales, with 108,376 units.
Aito took sixth, with 453,037 deliveries. This was enough for a 17.1% year-on-year increase, while the marque was responsible for 3.4% of China’s EV sales. However, with increased competition, this was a drop of 0.1pp compared to 2024. Aito’s M8 model led its EV sales, achieving 148,934 deliveries.
Impressive results
Seventh went to Xiaomi, which saw the biggest year-on-year volume increase out of the top 10 EV sellers. With 411,323 sales, the carmaker achieved an improvement of 194.9% year on year. This was good enough for a 3.1% share of the EV total, up from 1.2%.
The result was even more impressive considering Xiaomi only fielded two models, both in the BEV market. The SU7 led the way with 258,065 sales, while the YU7 achieved 153,258 deliveries.
Li Auto slipped to eighth in 2025 after placing fourth in 2024. With 408,059 sales, volumes dropped 18.5%. This meant its market share fell by 1.4pp, to 3.1%. Ninth went to Xpeng, with sales jumping 122.5% to 385,529 units. It held 2.9% of the EV total, up 1.4pp.
Chery rounded out the top 10, with 313,763 deliveries. This was a 10.3% improvement year on year, and gave the marque a 2.4% share. However, with increased competition, this was 0.1pp down compared to 2024.
How did global and European electric vehicle (EV) markets perform in 2025? Which brands sold the most EVs? How has one model navigated EU countervailing duties? Tom Geggus, Autovista24 editor, answers these questions in The Automotive Update podcast.
In this episode, Autovista24 analyses the global and European EV markets and examines the best-selling brands by plug-in volumes. Plus, a look at the latest twist in automotive trade talks between Europe and China.
Global sales of new EVs, including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), rose 20.9% to 20,914,871 units in 2025. However, this growth rate reflects a slowing trend. The global EV market has seen its pace of expansion slow consistently since 2021. During this period, BEVs consistently accounted for the majority of EV sales.
Conversely, Europe saw its steepest full-year growth since 2021, with a 31.3% improvement to 3,881,325 sales. This followed a decline in 2024. Last year’s increase was helped by a strong fourth quarter. In this period, the continent recorded 1,150,986 units, the first time more than one million sales occurred in a quarter.
BYD sold the greatest number of EVs in 2025, as its volumes increased by 3.1% to 3,967,070 units. However, due to increased competition, its market share fell by 3.2 percentage points (pp) year on year to 19%. Tesla followed in second, with 1,635,753 deliveries. However, this equated to a 8.5% drop in volumes.
In Europe, Volkswagen (VW) took the best-sellers title, with sales up 86.8% to 426,325 units. Consequently, its market share rose by 3.3pp to 11%. This marked the first time the marque led Europe’s EV market since its victory in 2021.
EV exempt from EU tariffs
The European Commission confirmed a minimum import price (MIP) for a BEV made in China. As of 11 February, VW can export the Cupra Tavascan into the EU at or above a proposed MIP.
The agreement will exempt the SUV from countervailing duties of 20.7%. Alongside the MIP, the carmaker will also limit its import volumes and invest in BEV-related projects in the EU.
‘SEAT and Cupra welcome the decision of the European Commission to accept SEAT and Cupra’s undertaking offer exempting the Cupra Tavascan from countervailing duties,’ the carmaker said in a statement sent to Autovista24. The statement went on to highlight that the Tavascan is a key model for the brand and its electrification journey.
The SUV is designed and developed in Europe and produced in China by a VW Group majority-owned subsidiary. The carmaker also said that the tariffs have had a significant impact on the results and performance of SEAT and Cupra in 2025. However, the carmaker ensured that this did not affect the price of the Tavascan.
This development could pave the way for more brands to reach similar agreements in the future. Meanwhile, China’s commerce ministry is now allowing carmakers from the country to negotiate independently with the EU, according to Reuters.
One carmaker continued to lead the global electric vehicle (EV) market in 2025. However, as competition heated up, its lead was eroded. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the plug-in market and its sellers with data from EV Volumes.
The global EV market, consisting of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), continued to grow in 2025. In total, 20,914,871 new plug-in units hit roads across the world. This equated to a year-on-year increase of 20.9%.
While positive at first glance, this growth rate reflects a slowing market trend. Since recording triple-digit growth in 2021, the new EV market has seen its pace of expansion slow consistently.
However, one thing which has not been consistent is which powertrain has driven this trend. In 2020, 2023 and 2024, PHEV sales, including extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), enjoyed higher year-on-year growth than BEVs.
This was more pronounced in 2020 and 2024, with at least 40 percentage points (pp) separating PHEV and BEV improvements. However, this was not true in 2021, 2022 and 2025 when all-electric car sales grew faster, but the disparity was smaller.
Yet, one thing did remain consistent across the global EV market, and that was the dominance of BEVs. Since 2020, all-electric cars made up at least 62.5% of all EV sales globally, as they recorded larger volumes. But which brand led the global plug-in market last year?
BYD leads EV brand table
In 2025, BYD led the global EV market with 3,967,070 plug-in sales, recording growth of 3.1%. This equated to a market share of 19%, far ahead of the Chinese brand’s next closest competitor. However, with increased competition, BYD saw its share of the global EV market fall by 3.2pp year on year.
BYD owed much of this success to its domestic performance, where its PHEVs sold in greater volumes than its BEVs. However, this imbalance levelled out on a global level, where all-electric models made up 50.1% of its total EV sales.
The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in select markets, was the brand’s best-selling EV in 2025. The BEV accounted for 10.3% of the carmaker’s plug-in volumes in the year.
It was closely followed by two PHEVs. The BYD Song Plus, also known as the Seal U, made up 8.3% of BYD’s EV sales. Meanwhile, the Qin Plus captured a 7.4% share. All three have been offered by the carmaker since at least January 2024.
This year, the carmaker can be expected to continue developing its presence globally. The brand is looking to offer 2,000 points of sale in Europe, according to Reuters. BYD wants to produce and source half its components from its Brazilian factory by the end of 2026.
This expansion will need to pay off as the carmaker’s EV sales fell consistently throughout the latter half of 2025. From July onwards, its monthly volumes dropped from between 2.6% and 28% year on year.
Tesla’s global tumble
Tesla took second place in the global brand ranking. It sold 1,635,753 units and accounted for 7.8% of global EV deliveries. However, both results equated to losses for the brand. Its deliveries were down 8.5% compared with 2024, while its EV market share sank 2.5pp.
This is still impressive given that the carmaker only sells BEVs while its competitors also offer PHEVs. Focusing on all-electric cars, Tesla made up 11.9% of global volumes. However, this was still down from 16.5% in 2024.
The Tesla Model Y accounted for nearly two-thirds of the brand’s volumes in 2025 at 66.4% with 1,085,521 units. With just under half of this share, the Model 3 made up 30.5% of the carmaker’s sales. The Cybertruck, Model X and Model S made minimal contributions towards Tesla’s sales, accounting for 1.5%, 1% and 0.6%, respectively.
Looking ahead, Tesla plans to make some major changes to its operations. Its top-selling model will see the launch of a more affordable, all-wheel drive powertrain, Business Insider reported. This also provides an opportunity for the carmaker to remove the ‘Standard’ edition naming convention.
Electrek reported that the Model S and Model X are being discontinued because the carmaker is pursuing autonomous technologies. The BEVs can be expected to be shelved by the end of the second quarter this year. This follows the brand’s new strategy to lean into artificial intelligence, autonomous technology and robotics.
Geely brand generates growth
Geely, including its Galaxy models, sold the third-largest volume of EVs in 2025. In total, it moved 1,196,394 units, equating to a 160.9% year-on-year increase. This was the highest rate of growth recorded in the brand top 10.
Last year’s improvement was also up on the 120.1% rise recorded in 2024. This recent growth elevated Geely’s market share to 5.7% in 2025, up from 2.7% in 2024.
Three BEVs topped the brand’s model offering in terms of volume. The Geely Geome Xingyuan, also known as the EX2, accounted for 39.6% of the brand’s EV sales last year. It was followed by the Panda Mini with a 13.6% share. The carmaker’s third most popular model was the E5, also known as the EX5, with an 11.5% hold.
Looking ahead, Geely wants its global vehicle sales to reach 6.5 million units by 2030. More than one-third of this figure is expected to be generated by overseas sales. The overall goal is to be among the top five biggest carmakers during a time of increasing competition.
Brand table titans
Below the top three seven-digit sales performers sat a range of brands, many boasting their own EV delivery growth. With increasing competition in the global EV market, only a handful of top-table listed carmakers saw EV sales declines.
Wuling, including Baojun models, took fourth with 912,260 vehicles hitting the roads. This was up by 32.5% compared with 2024, while its market share climbed by 0.4pp to 4.4%. 93.8% of the carmaker’s EV sales came from BEVs, with the Wuling Mini recording 431,779 deliveries alone.
Then came Leapmotor, with an impressive 97.6% sales increase to 569,629 units. This gave it a 2.7% share, up 1pp. The C10 BEV led its efforts, recording 118,354 deliveries in the year. While lower than its BEV performance, the carmaker recorded 107,803 EREV sales across 2025, including the C16, C10, C11 and C01.
The first legacy European brand came in sixth. Volkswagen saw its EV sales climb by 25.1% to 568,032 units. This gave it a market share of 2.7%, up by just 0.1pp. BMW was not too far behind, although its EV deliveries dropped by 0.4% to 535,910 units. This saw its share drop by 0.5pp to 2.6%.
With EV deliveries increasing by 17.1%, Aito moved 453,037 units, making up 2.2% of the plug-in market in eighth. This was static on its 2024 performance.
Xpeng recorded 427,309 sales, up 126.4% year on year. This meant a 0.9pp boost to its EV market share, which hit 2%. The third decline in the table came in 10th, as Li Auto’s EV sales fell by 19.3% to 424,987 units. Accordingly, its share fell by 1pp to 2%.
Amid historic electric vehicle (EV) growth in Europe during 2025, one brand emerged as a comfortable winner. Behind, some carmakers enjoyed significant improvements, while others faced big declines. Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker reviews the winners and losers.
Europe’s EV market performance in 2025 was record-breaking, for many reasons. The continent recorded 3,881,325 battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales from January to December. This equated to an additional 924,422 units compared to 2024, according to EV Volumes.
The figure also marked a year-on-year improvement of 31.3%, the steepest growth achieved since 2021. So, following a marginal decline in 2024, this can be seen as a strong rebound for European EV sales.
One million EV sales surpassed
This bounce-back was helped by soaring volumes in the latter part of the year. For the first time, Europe recorded more than one million sales in a single quarter. Between October and December, a total of 1,150,986 new EVs were delivered. This was 203,691 units higher than the previous record set in the second quarter of 2025.
The figure translated to a staggering growth of 40.9% year on year. This was the continent’s best improvement since the third quarter of 2021.
Furthermore, it ensured double-digit growth in every quarter of 2025. Volumes lifted up gradually throughout the year, starting with a 20% rise from January to March. This was bettered by 27.4% and 35.5% increases in the second and third quarters, respectively.
This culminated in a surging December performance, which saw the highest number of EV sales ever achieved in one month. With a total of 439,052 units, the result overcame a long-standing record set back in December 2022.
This figure represented a year-on-year sales increase of 48.5%, the biggest monthly percentage growth seen since August 2022. December’s increase was complemented by significant improvements in October and November of 36.6% and 36.4%, respectively.
Europe’s best-selling EV brand
Among surging EV growth in Europe, Volkswagen (VW) comfortably posted the most sales. The marque enjoyed a 86.8% year on year rise to 426,325 units. Out of the top five best-selling EV brands in Europe, this was the highest percentage increase recorded.
Consequently, its market share soared from 7.7% to 11%, becoming the only carmaker to surpass the 10% threshold in 2025. VW’s full-year performance was consolidated by a strong fourth quarter, topping the table with a 52% year on year improvement.
Overall, 2025 was a comeback year for VW, which previously led the continent’s EV standings in 2021. It went on to place third in 2022 and 2023, before dropping to fifth in 2024.
VW’s success can be attributed to three models from its ID range. This was the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.7. These models accounted for 54.8% of the brand’s EV total, with the ID.3 recording the highest share of the trio at 18.5%. The ID.4 and ID.7 made up for 18.3% and 18% of volumes, respectively.
Another model that performed strongly was the VW Tiguan, which accounted for 14.2% of VW’s EV sales in 2025.
The carmaker will be hoping that an electric model offensive can help it to retain its top spot in 2026. The much-anticipated ID.Polo, previously called the ID.2, will make its debut in spring 2026. It is one of six new EVs planned for launch this year.
Could the Neue Klasse drive volumes?
BMW made it a fourth-consecutive year of second-place finishes in 2025. The brand’s market share fell by 1.2 percentage points (pp) due to increased competition, ending the year at 8.7%. This came despite a 15.6% improvement in sales to 337,298 units.
BMW’s sales consistency was also shown in the final quarter of 2025, as the manufacturer posted a 15% EV sales increase.
The marque’s best-selling plug-in over 2025 was the BMW iX1, representing 20% of its overall total. The i4 and X1 also enjoyed solid volumes, with 13.7% and 11.6% shares, respectively.
Like VW, BMW will hope to continue its upward momentum into 2026, thanks to new models. The iX3, the first EV to use the Neue Klasse platform, will hold its official European market launch on 7 March. The second Neue Klasse EV, the i3, is expected to enter series production in the second half of 2026.
EV dominance for German brands
Mercedes-Benz claimed third in the cumulative table. So, for the first time since 2021, Europe’s top three best-selling EV brands came from Germany. However, with a 1.6% rise to 261,438 units, Mercedes-Benz did not enjoy the same sales pace as VW or BMW. Unsurprisingly, its market share dropped by 2pp to 6.7%.
A wide range of EV models contributed to its figures. Capturing 16% of plug-in volumes, the Mercedes-Benz EQA posted the highest sales, followed by the GLC with a 15.1% share. The Mercedes-Benz EQB also had a positive year, accounting for 13.3% of overall deliveries.
The new generation of the brand’s GLC SUV could help the brand improve on its marginal growth. Deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2026 for some countries, such as the UK. The new electric GLB also opened its order books in Europe after celebrating its global debut at the Brussels Motor Show.
Mercedes-Benz’s electric SUV range will be expanded further with the new generation of the C-Class and GLA. Both models will celebrate their premieres this year. Elsewhere, the updated CLA Shooting Brake will host its European market launch in March 2026.
This comes after the saloon version of the new CLA began deliveries in 2025. The latter may have played a part in the manufacturer’s 6.1% sales growth from October to December.
Tesla’s European EV troubles
Tesla was the fourth best-selling EV brand in Europe in 2025. This was a disappointing result for the BEV-only carmaker, which took the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
A total of 238,511 new Tesla models were delivered between January and December, its lowest full-year figure since 2022. The number also equated to a 27.1% slump year on year. Its market share also plummeted from 11.1% to 6.1%. Tesla placed seventh in the fourth quarter standings with a 22.2% sales drop.
Unlike the other carmakers in the top 10, Tesla’s volumes in 2025 were almost solely driven by two models. This was the Model Y and Model 3, which made up 99.4% of the brand’s total. The former recorded the majority of sales, with a 63.1% share, while the Model 3 accounted for 36.3% of deliveries.
Both BEVs received a new, lower-cost version at the end of 2025. According to Reuters, the Model Y Standard launched in October. This was followed by the Model 3 Standard in December, the news outlet wrote.
Audi’s fourth-quarter flourish
Just 8,613 units behind Tesla in the full-year standings came Audi. The German marque achieved 33.3% growth in 2025, as 229,898 new models left dealerships. Despite a double-digit improvement, its market share only saw a marginal rise of 0.1pp to 5.9%.
Of Europe’s top five best-selling EV brands, Audi ended the year well. Sales surged by 95.9% year on year in the fourth quarter.
Three of Audi’s e-tron BEVs made up most of the brand’s cumulative figure. This was the Q4 e-tron, the Q6 e-tron and the A6 e-tron. The trio accounted for 64.9% of Audi’s EV sales, while the Q4 e-tron alone made up 27.2%.
Towards the end of 2025, the marque launched a new entry-level variant of the SUV, which may help maintain its sales pace this year.
The Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron achieved market shares of 24.9% and 12.8% within the carmaker’s stable, respectively. Outside of the e-tron model range, the Audi A3 also posted positive figures, making up 11.6% of Audi’s total volumes.
While the brand’s best-sellers came from larger segments last year, future volumes may be boosted by an upcoming entry-level BEV. Production of the model is planned to start in 2026.
Triple-digit EV growth
Fellow VW Group brand Skoda secured sixth in the full-year standings, jumping up from ninth in 2024. Volumes soared by 109.1% compared to one year prior, with 212,721 deliveries. This translated to a market share of 5.5%, up 2.1pp year on year.
Sales pace slowed slightly in the final quarter, with the Czech brand posting a 74.2% increase.
Skoda could continue its rise this year, with the introduction of the Epiq. The all-electric city SUV will be fully unveiled in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, a large all-electric SUV, called the Peaq, is scheduled to hold its world premiere this year.
On the other hand, Volvo endured a 13.1% EV delivery decline in 2025, landing seventh. With 207,098 sales, it trailed Skoda by just 5,623 units. The manufacturer made up 5.3% of total EV volumes, down 2.8pp year on year. It placed ninth in the fourth quarter standings, after a 2.1% fall in sales.
Volvo will be hoping to bounce back in 2026, aided by the introduction of a new BEV model called the EX60. Following the success of the smaller EX30, the mid-size SUV is scheduled to begin deliveries this summer.
BYD’s rapid EV expansion
BYD comfortably recorded the steepest growth out of Europe’s top 10 best-selling EV brands in 2025. Sales surged by 271.8% year on year to 187,112 units, enough for eighth in the table. In turn, its market share jumped from 1.7% to 4.8%.
The Chinese brand managed an even higher placing of fifth in the fourth quarter standings, as volumes improved by 222.8%.
BYD’s EV range will be bolstered by the BYD Atto 3 Evo, a comprehensive update of its existing BEV SUV. Deliveries in some markets, such as Belgium and Luxembourg, are expected to start in spring 2026.
Renault also enjoyed a strong finish to 2025 in ninth. The marque delivered 172,700 new models between January and December, ensuring an improvement of 87.3% year on year. It took a 4.4% market share, up 1.3pp. Renault saw greater sales growth in the fourth quarter, with a 95.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The brand’s new Twingo city car may help maintain sales pace heading into this year. The BEV opened its orders to the general public in January 2026.
Closing out the full-year standings was Cupra. The carmaker delivered 155,220 EVs from January to December, translating to a 69.3% increase year on year. Consequently, its share rose by 0.9pp to 4%. Along with fellow VW Group brands, Cupra is also launching a small BEV in 2026, called the Raval.
Narrowly missing out on a top 10 finish in 2025 was Ford. The American marque finished just 712 units behind Cupra in the full-year table. This was despite a strong end to 2025, with an 87.1% delivery improvement in the fourth quarter alone.
While the UK new-car market started 2026 positively, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) struggled as external circumstances impacted registrations. But how did plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) push the country’s overall market to growth? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry explores the data.
The UK’s new-car market started 2026 with a year-on-year improvement. However, growth was predominantly driven by the PHEV market, as BEV demand stagnated.
In total, 144,127 new passenger cars were registered during January. This was a 3.4% improvement, according to data released by the SMMT. The month is traditionally a slower one for new-car deliveries in the UK, highlighted by the unit-total increase of just 4,782 models.
January marked a second consecutive month of improvement, and the country will be hoping for a better start to 2026. January 2025 began a rollercoaster year with a decline, the first of six monthly volume drops in the 12-month period.
Should February prove positive, it would be the first period of three or more successive months of growth since between August 2022 and July 2024. This highlights the market’s inconsistent performance since August 2024.
However, the SMMT is optimistic about 2026. The UK motoring authority has revised its forecast from October 2025, and projects a 1.4% rise in volumes across the year. This would mean the delivery of 2.048 million units.
But some powertrains came up against strong results from January 2025, creating a challenging picture for the beginning of 2026.
Influences on BEVs
The UK’s BEV market stalled last month, as exceptional circumstances combined to impact figures. With 29,654 registrations, volumes increased by just 0.1%. This equated to 20 more all-electric units being taken to UK roads compared with January 2025.
This was the worst year-on-year performance since December 2023. Both these poor results are the work of external market dynamics. At the end of 2023, carmakers held back BEV registrations. This was so that deliveries counted towards the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The move resulted in a 34.2% decline in December’s figures.
Fast forward to January 2025, and another market change led to a three-month period of growth above 40%. In this instance, it was the introduction of vehicle excise duty (VED) in April 2025 that caused a pull-forward effect. Drivers rushed to have their BEVs registered before the implementation, to avoid an initial one-off VED cost.
There was another pull-forward effect at the end of 2025. Carmakers rushing to meet the year’s ZEV mandate target may also have impacted January figures. These combined factors, together with a traditionally slower month for deliveries, have skewed the overall BEV result.
This left the powertrain with a market share of 20.6%, the lowest recorded since April 2025. This was also a drop of 0.7 percentage points (pp) compared to January 2025. This may be a concern for the industry.
Difficulty for BEVs ahead?
In 2026, the ZEV mandate target for carmakers to achieve is 33% of their fleet. This is up from 28% last year. The overall market only achieved a 23.4% share across 2025, so starting with a decline is not the optimal position for the sector to be in.
However, the SMMT has revised its forecast for BEV uptake from its previous October predictions. The powertrain is expected to reach a 28.5% share of the UK new-car market by the end of this year. This would represent progress over 2025, but still fall short of the mandated target.
Still, the industry body is calling for a holistic review of the UK’s transition to BEVs. The country is still on course to ban sales of new petrol and diesel models from 2030. This is despite a pushback on similar plans in the EU.
Alongside the Electric Car Grant incentive scheme, the government launched a campaign in January highlighting the benefits of going electric. However, this will need to combat the new eVED pay-per-mile scheme set to come into effect in 2028. With this in mind, the SMMT believes demand will be further suppressed in the coming years.
‘Britain’s new car market is building back momentum after a challenging start to the decade. It is also decarbonising more rapidly than ever and, despite a January dip in EV market share, the signs point to growth by the end of the year,’ commented SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
‘The pace of the transition, however, may be slowing and is certainly behind mandated targets. With sales of new pure petrol and diesel cars planned to end in less than four years, there needs to be a comprehensive review of the transition now, to ensure ambition can match reality,’ he concluded.
PHEVs provide relief
BEV’s electric vehicle (EV) stablemate, PHEVs, provided the uplift needed for the new-car market to achieve growth. Without the 18,557-unit total achieved by the powertrain, the whole market would have experienced a 0.9% decline.
The additional 5,959 units equated to a 47.3% year-on-year increase. This marked the technology’s best performance in terms of volume and percentage growth since September 2025. It also represented a continued streak of double-digit improvements that stretches back to February 2025.
This also meant PHEVs achieved a 12.9% market share, up by 3.9pp. This left the powertrain just 0.5pp behind the full-hybrid (HEV) market. PHEVs closed this gap across 2025, with the powertrains’ shares split by 4.2pp in January of last year. This is a trend that looks set to continue in 2026.
Combining BEV and PHEV volumes, the EV market saw 48,211 registrations in January. This was 14.2% higher than 12 months prior. This allowed for a 33.5% market share, up 3.2pp.
However, EVs were unable to repeat their December high of beating the internal-combustion engine (ICE) model share. This was thanks in part to the poor BEV performance, together with a stronger ICE result in the month.
Slow times for HEVs
The UK records hybrid registrations differently from other major European markets. Only full-hybrid (HEV) figures are counted in this category, while mild-hybrid totals are merged with their respective petrol and diesel counterparts.
In January, 19,297 HEVs were registered, a 4.8% improvement year on year. This equated to a rise of 884 units and a 13.4% market share, up 0.2pp.
The powertrain has seen slow growth in the UK. During 2025, the only months with double-digit volume rises were the plate-change periods of March and September. This allowed PHEV registrations to catch up, setting up an intriguing battle between the two hybrid technologies this year.
Combining HEV and EV figures, electrified vehicles recorded 67,508 registrations last month, up 11.3% year on year. This gave the grouping a 46.8% market share, up 3.3pp, but not high enough to topple the ICE segment. This was the first time since August 2025 that electrified powertrains were not the dominant grouping in the country.
ICE slide slows
Petrol registrations continued to decline in January. However, their 1.9% fall was the best monthly result since a 2.4% improvement in September 2025. In total, 68,757 units were delivered to customers, a drop of 1,318 units.
January marked the fourth month in a row of single-digit declines, suggesting the market’s fall is slowing. The 47.7% market share recorded in the month was down by just 2.6pp. This was the fuel type’s best result since May 2025.
Meanwhile, diesel deliveries fell by 8.8%. However, with 7,862 units, this was a drop of just 763 registrations year on year. The powertrain took 5.5% of the UK’s total volume, a fall of 0.7pp.
Combined, ICE registrations achieved 76,619 units, a fall of 2.6%. The powertrain group returned to dominance in the month, with a 53.2% hold of the market, down 3.3pp.
The slowdown in the ICE decline helped the UK’s overall growth in January. However, with the new ZEV mandate and the resurgence of PHEVs, 2026 could see swings towards electrified models.
