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VW leads the EU new-car market as newcomers make their mark

The EU’s leading automotive brands and manufacturer groups performed strongly in March. But how is the rise of new entrants to the market diluting the shares of established carmakers? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the figures. The EU’s new-car market is starting to find its footing following a difficult start to the year. But as some established brands returned to growth in March, the volume from new entrants jumped considerably. The latest ACEA data reveals a market still dominated by traditional names, while also seeing volumes shared across more manufacturers. But which brands came out on top in March? VW returns to growth Volkswagen (VW) remained the EU’s best-selling brand in the month. The German carmaker secured 115,612 registrations in the month, giving it a 10% market share. The performance meant registrations increased by 2.2% year on year, the marque’s first improvement of 2026. While VW’s share of the EU total was commanding, it was also one percentage point (pp) down on March 2025. This symbolised the increasing competition in the bloc’s automotive market. Group stablemate Skoda kept its position as second-best-selling brand in March, thanks to 75,104 registrations. The carmaker has been the most consistent performer of the VW Group marques across the first quarter. It was the only one to see growth in each month. March represented its best volume of 2026, with a 21.2% increase year on year. This was enough for a 6.5% hold of the EU market. Renault had its strongest period of the year in terms of volumes. With 72,193 units, the 3.6% increase during March 2025 saw it jump to third. The carmaker secured 6.2% of the market, although this was a drop of 0.6pp. Toyota was the fourth-best-selling brand in the month, thanks to 70,638 deliveries. Volumes increased by 6.7% compared to the same point 12 months prior, while its 6.1% market share was down 0.3pp. Ending the month in fifth was BMW. The carmaker saw 67,102 deliveries in the month, an increase of 18.5%. This meant its market share increased, albeit by just 0.3pp, to 5.8%. A rise and fall market In total, 25 of the EU’s major brands saw volumes increase year on year. However, 13 marques suffered registration decreases in March. Peugeot was the highest-volume brand to record a decline. Despite leading the Stellantis Group in terms of deliveries, its 54,454 units was 10.6% down year on year. This meant its market share fell from 5.9% in March 2025 to 4.7% last month. Ford also struggled in March, recording its third volume drop of 2026. With 26,029 units, deliveries fell 14.5%. Meanwhile, both Alfa Romeo and Mitsubishi saw drops of 17.2% and 33%, respectively. BYD saw the greatest year-on-year registration growth. The Chinese brand delivered 21,158 units to customers across the EU, a 155.2% increase in volumes. This was enough for a 1.8% market share, up 1pp. It ended March as the 21st best-selling brand in the EU. Tesla also saw a jump in fortunes. In total, the carmaker recorded 36,868 deliveries, a rise of 101.9%. With a 3.2% market share, up 1.4pp, it placed 13th in the month. New entrants making gains The latest ACEA data covers the results of 38 carmakers, with some smaller-volume brands grouped together. However, according to Autovista24 analysis, there were 50,337 registrations in March that were not attributed to brands in the available data. This grouping likely includes marques such as Xpeng, Omoda and Jaecoo, as well as other new brands to the EU. These brands had a strong presence in the European electric vehicle (EV) market during February, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. This category is steadily increasing. Non-attributed registrations increased by 209.3% in March, based on Autovista24 calculations. This gave the grouping a 4.3% share of the market, up from just 1.6% a year prior. After three months of 2026, this grouping saw an increase of 65.3%, with 119,999 units delivered to EU customers. This was enough for 4.3% of the market, a rise of 1.6pp. With more brands entering the EU market, the increased competition is diluting the shares of more established carmakers. While many saw year-on-year increases in volumes, their market shares fell. As the popularity of these new entrants rises, increasing choice for buyers, it is likely that more share dilution will occur. Strong results in first quarter Across the first quarter of the year, VW was the leading brand in the EU, with 292,231 deliveries. However, this was a drop of 3.5% year-on-year. Yet the carmaker’s market share was 10.4%, down by 0.8pp, but still 3.6pp ahead of its nearest competitor. Jumping into second after its strong performance in March was Skoda. With 191,657 units, it saw volumes jump 16.9% in the first quarter. The carmaker overtook Toyota, which dropped third with 188,140 deliveries in the three-month period. Once again, BYD saw the greatest registration increase. Across the first three months of 2026, its EU volumes improved by 169.7%, as the Chinese carmaker found its stride. As it did in March, BYD took 1.8% of the market. It was followed by Tesla, which took second in terms of growth thanks to its strong March performance. Its volumes increased by 59.6% compared with the same period last year, as 57,792 units were delivered. The US brand therefore took a 2% share of the total EU market in the month. Ford’s struggles continued in the first quarter. Deliveries were down by 18.9%, as 67,068 units were registered. Dacia also posted a decline in the period, as its 115,418-unit tally was 18.7% down year on year. VW Group dominates in March Thanks to the performance of VW, Skoda and Audi, VW Group was the dominant manufacturing group in March. With 296,431 registrations, it saw volumes rise by 7.8%. It held 25.6% of the market in the month, although with increasing competition, this dropped by 1.1pp. The result was not helped by declines for the Cupra, SEAT and Porsche brands. However, the Group’s top three marques made up 82.9% of the German carmaker’s total, powering it to an improvement. Despite counting more brands under its umbrella, Stellantis was still some way off the top spot. Its 184,842-unit tally was up 6.8% compared to March 2025, while its 16% market share was down 0.8pp. The group’s volumes were not helped by the poor result for Peugeot, which made up 29.5% of Stellantis’ total deliveries in the month. This was slightly countered by Fiat, including Abarth, which saw volumes increase 26.7%, in another strong performance for the Italian marque. Citroën also helped, with an 18.3% increase, while registrations from Opel improved 22.9%. Renault Group experienced its first monthly improvement of the year, with registrations up 3.9%. For the first time in 2026, Renault, Dacia and Alpine all posted simultaneous growth. With Renault making up 57.7% of the group’s deliveries, its strong performance in March helped boost overall volumes. A difficult pattern for some The manufacturing group results for the first quarter mirrored those of March. VW Group led the way with 745,828 deliveries, up 2.5% compared to the same period of 2025. However, its market share fell by 0.4pp, to 26.4%. While the VW brand saw a decline, the combined totals of Skoda and Audi, making up 44.1% of the group’s total, were enough to keep the overall delivery volume positive. Stellantis was the second-biggest volume group after three months of the year, with 489,081 units, up 8.5%. While Peugeot struggled, with a 7.2% drop, Fiat, Citroën and Opel, making up 58% of volumes, were able to aid the group’s growth. While sitting in third, the rollercoaster results from Renault Group meant that its 286,296 registrations were down 8.4% year on year. Two of its marques saw losses after the first quarter of 2026 was complete, with Renault dropping 0.1%, while Dacia fell 18.7%. Only Alpine registered an increase, of 20.9%, but the brand made up just 0.8% of the group’s volume total.

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News

How are major markets influencing global EV sales results?

Total new electric vehicle (EV) sales fell across the world in February. But which markets and models drove this result? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores EV Volumes’ latest data. Sales of new EVs, including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), fell globally in February. Combined, 1,014,980 plug-in units took to the roads, down by 16.5% year on year, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. Figures for the first two months of the year were cushioned by a less severe 9.5% drop in January. This still equated to a cumulative year-on-year decline of 12.6%, as volumes of EVs reached 2,179,155 units. Of the two powertrains, PHEV sales saw a greater decline. Including extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), deliveries fell by 20.6% across the first two months of the year to 715,698 units. In February alone, the powertrain recorded a 22% drop in volumes to 328,243 units. However, PHEVs only accounted for 32.3% of EV sales in the month, with fully-electric cars accounting for over two thirds. BEV deliveries saw a relatively smaller 13.6% decline. This meant 686,737 newly sold cars featured all-electric technology in February. Across the first two months of 2026, this tallied to 1,463,457 units, down 8.1% year on year. Regional EV performance China, as the world’s biggest EV market by volume, led a trend of declines for both powertrains in February. While Chinese New Year fell on 17 February, the sales decreases surpassed a seasonal effect. EV Volumes confirmed BEVs, PHEVs and fuel-cell EVs were omitted from the country’s strategic five-year development plan for emerging industries. Additionally, EVs are no longer exempt from purchase tax, with a 2026 rate of 5% and 10% from 2027 onwards. The end of the national EV subsidy scheme and suspension of scrappage programmes in several cities also compounded this effect. Across January and February, China saw deliveries of PHEVS fall by 37.9% year on year. With 54.6% of the technology’s sales occurring in the country, this was a driving factor behind the global decline. Among the world’s other big PHEV markets, the US also saw a decline, with 51.4% fewer new models leaving forecourts. However, the country only represented 3.5% of the market across January and February. Global figures were helped by strong growth in Germany, the UK and Italy. Parallel BEV performance The global BEV market was broadly parallel, with 41.6% of the powertrain’s sales occurring in China. Over the first two months of 2026, deliveries of the technology declined by 29.7% year on year in the country. The US also struggled with BEV sales in the first two months of the year, with deliveries down by 32.4%. As the second-biggest global market for all-electric technology, this added to the overall decline. However, the figures were helped by good performances in Europe. Germany and France both posted double-digit improvements, while the UK avoided a drop, according to EV Volumes data. Tesla Model Y out in front The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV across the world in February, delivering 68,556 units. This represented a year-on-year increase of 34.8%, as its market share climbed by 3.6 percentage points (pp) to 10%. The positive result pushed the model’s market share to 8.4% in the first two months of 2026. This gave it a sizeable lead over second place. February’s chart saw the Tesla Model 3 take second, despite its sales dropping 21.2% to 31,189 units. It accounted for 4.5% of global BEV deliveries, down 0.5pp from February 2025. This put it in third two months into the year, with 47,409 sales equating to a 3.2% market share. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in some markets, finished third in February. Its deliveries dropped by 33.4% to 20,600 units, meaning its market share slid by 0.9pp to 3%. Despite a weak January, the model still held a 2.6% share across the first two months of the year, putting it in fourth. Thanks to a good domestic result, the Xiaomi YU7 was the fourth-best-selling new BEV across the world in February. It saw 20,131 sales and a 2.9% market share. With a similar strong run in January, the Chinese model sat second in the cumulative chart. Despite being 64,951 units behind first, this was impressive for a model which first recorded deliveries in June 2025. A more recent arrival, the Li Auto I6 took fifth in February after launching in September last year. Its 15,997 units represented 2.3% of all new BEV sales. It also took fifth across the first two months of 2026 with a slightly smaller share of 2.2%. Highs and lows The second half of February’s global BEV table saw the Geely Geome Xingyuan, also known as the EX2, come sixth. However, its 13,596 sales were down 52.4% year on year. This meant its market share slipped from 3.6% to 2%. The model took a 2.1% share in the cumulative results with 30,038 sales. The Nio ES8, also known as the EL8, took seventh in February. Its deliveries climbed by 2321.7% to 11,818 units. It accounted for 1.7% of all BEV sales, up 1.6pp. This put it ahead of the Geely Geome Xingyuan between January and February, with 30,374 units moved and a 2.1% market share. In the monthly results, the Toyota bZ4X was eighth with its sales rising by 154.1% to 11,203 units. It claimed a 1.6% share, up 1pp. This put its cumulative hold on the market at 1.4% after a weaker January. Two BYD models closed out February’s table. The BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, came ninth with 10,035 deliveries, down 38.7%. Its share slumped by 0.6pp to 1.5%. The model closed out the cumulative table in 10th with a 1.4% share. The BYD Dolphin was next, seeing a more gradual sales decline of 4.6% to 9,761 units. This gave it a 1.4% grip on the market, up 0.1pp. The BEV came eighth across January and February with a 1.7% share. BYD takes top two The BYD Song Pro was the best-selling new PHEV across the world in February. It recorded 13,130 deliveries, which was down 33.5% year on year as its market share shrank by 0.7pp to 4%. It took second across the first two months of the year with a 3.7% grip on the global PHEV market. The BYD Song Plus, also known as the Seal U, felt an even sharper decline. With results dropping 57.5%, it recorded 11,183 sales. The model accounted for 3.4% of all PHEV deliveries, down from 6.3% in February 2025. It came third in the cumulative table with a 3.6% share. Not far behind in February was the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7. First recording sales in the second half of 2025, it counted 11,078 deliveries in February, taking a share of 3.4%. However, it took first place and a 4% share across the first two months of 2026. Fourth in February was the BYD Seal 6. Its sales dropped by 48.7% to 6,489 units. This drove its share down to 2% from 3% a year prior. The Aito M7 was close behind as its sales climbed by 24.5% to 6,479 units. This sent its share upwards by 0.8pp to 2% in the month. Established models see declines With 6,120 sales, deliveries of the BYD Qin Plus were down by 63.4%. Its share dropped by more than half to 1.9%. The Li Auto L6 was seventh with a 1.6% hold over the market, down from 3.1% a year earlier. It recorded 5,190 units, down by 60.6%. First recording sales in September 2025, the Zeekr 9X managed 5,095 sales, taking a 1.6% share. The Jaecoo J7 strengthened its grip on the market by 1.1pp to 1.5%. This was thanks to a sales increase of 170.4% to 4,945 units. The only European model in the PHEV top 10 was the Volvo XC60. It managed 4,772 sales in February, down by 22.3% year on year. However, it was able to maintain its 1.5% market share.

News

Electrified powertrains make important step in UK registration results

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

News

BEVs lead soaring sales of new cars in Germany

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded surging sales in Germany’s new-car market during March. Yet it was not the only powertrain to enjoy positive results, as overall registrations achieved double-digit growth. Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker reviews the figures. After a sluggish start to 2026, the German new-car market bounced back in March. Registrations increased by 16% year on year to 294,161 units, according to the KBA. This marked the biggest delivery growth since April 2024 and the highest volume total since June 2024. Last month’s increase was powered by soaring BEV sales, while lower-than-usual internal-combustion engine (ICE) declines also influenced overall results. Across the first quarter, registrations improved by 5.2% to 699,404 units. This can be seen as a positive performance, following a decline in January and a marginal increase in February. ‘March 2026 demonstrated notable growth within Germany’s new-car market. Private registrations increased by 22.2% in March. Meanwhile, commercial registrations, which maintained a dominant market share of 65%, saw growth of 13%,’ commented Ina Gronemeyer, cluster head of valuations for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ‘The SUV segment remains the leading category, recording a 29% increase and capturing a 37.1% market share,’ she added. Volkswagen’s contrasting fortunes in Germany Germany’s best-selling new-car brands saw varying results across the first quarter. Some inter-group battles remained, while Chinese brands continued to take a foothold in the market. Volkswagen (VW) suffered a 5.3% drop in registrations between January and March. Yet, it continued as Germany’s most popular new-car brand, with a 18.7% share. In contrast, Skoda, a VW Group brand, enjoyed a 24.6% year on year increase in the first quarter. It placed second in the best-sellers table, with an 8.9% share of overall deliveries. There were differing performances for other domestic carmakers. Mercedes-Benz endured a 2.4% delivery decline in third place, just 548 units ahead of BMW, which recorded an 8.1% improvement. Audi saw an uptick of 7.1% in fifth. This contrasted with fellow VW Group brand SEAT, which saw a 14.6% drop in sixth. Positive first quarter for Stellantis Stellantis brands Opel and Fiat had a positive first quarter. The former posted a registrations increase of 38.9% in seventh, as Fiat deliveries soared by 65.6% in 10th. In between the two marques came Ford and Hyundai. The US carmaker suffered a 7.4% decline in eighth, while Hyundai achieved a 16.5% improvement in ninth. Elsewhere, BYD continued its upward trajectory. It saw a 644.5% surge in registrations year on year, giving it a 1.3% market share. Leapmotor and Xpeng also saw deliveries soar by 370.7% and 179.4%, respectively. Although both recorded market shares of less than 1%. Tesla posted a higher share of 1.8% while achieving a triple-digit improvement of 160% year on year. Overall, non-domestic brands performed strongly across the first quarter, according to the VDIK. ‘Non-domestic manufacturers have once again significantly increased their market share compared to the previous year. This shows that the vehicles coming from these brands are technically innovative, attractive and meet the wishes of the customers,’ explained Imelda Labbé, VDIK president. ‘In the case of BEVs, non-domestic carmakers were also able to make noticeable gains,’ she noted. Soaring BEV market in Germany BEV registrations saw significant year-on-year growth in March. Volumes surged by 66.2% to 70,663 units, translating to a 24% market share. This was up 7.2 percentage points (pp) from March 2025. This was the biggest monthly increase and largest share since August 2023. However, that period saw a pull-forward effect, before subsidies for commercial BEV buyers ended in September 2023. From January to March, all-electric deliveries improved by 41.3% year on year. The technology accounted for 22.8% of overall new-car volumes, up 5.8pp from 12 months prior. The technology also ended the first quarter 0.1pp ahead of petrol in terms of market share. This meant BEVs were the second most popular powertrain in Germany’s new-car market during the first quarter of 2026. Smaller PHEV improvement Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) volumes recorded smaller improvements. Registrations rose by 13% in March to 29,996 units. After a strong 2025, this marked the powertrain’s lowest year-on-year increase since December 2024. Yet due to even greater growth from BEVs and hybrids, its market share fell by 0.3pp to 10.2%. This was PHEV's smallest slice of the market since June 2025. PHEVs posted a 19.3%* year on year improvement in the first quarter, with 76,114 registrations. The technology captured 10.9% of overall volumes, up from 9.6%. Combining BEV and PHEV figures, electric vehicle (EVs) saw a 45.7% increase in deliveries during March. The powertrain group made up 34.2% of total registrations, up 7pp year on year. EV growth reached 33.4% in the first quarter, with its market share going from 26.6% to 33.7%. Wait for EV incentives continues in Germany Behind the successful start for EVs in 2026, multiple factors may have helped to boost demand, including purchase incentives. The new scheme was announced at the start of the year, with retroactive applications eligible back to 1 January. Taxable household income and family size determine the amount of funding available for BEV, PHEV and extended-range electric vehicle purchases. Users will be able to apply for support online; however, the portal will not open until May. ‘The significant increase in private registrations may be attributed to the newly introduced EV incentives,’ Gronemeyer outlined. ‘However, it is premature to determine their long-term effectiveness, given the complexity and uncertainty surrounding application conditions. Challenging economic circumstances also make forecasting their effectiveness difficult,’ she projected. While many buyers will be willing to buy before the portal is opened, some may hold off until May. The ZDK believes this delay will limit the potential of EV growth. ‘People need planning security, and not a funding policy on demand. As long as the promise of EV incentives is not implemented, customers will react with reluctance to buy,’ explained Thomas Peckruhn, ZDK president. ‘For many interested parties in the income class addressed by the incentives, it is a central component of financing, especially for the direct payment of special leasing instalments.’ ‘Without clear guidelines, the desired impulse will fizzle out, and the hoped-for ramp-up of EVs will either not get going at all or will be significantly delayed,’ he commented. Fuelling EV demand Rising fuel prices may also be affecting EV demand, with the total cost of ownership (TCO) increasing for ICE models. According to the ZDK, the energy costs per 100 kilometres for BEVs are currently significantly lower than those for ICE vehicles. ‘The increased fuel prices play a role in the purchase of EVs, but it remains to be seen whether this will lead to more sales. Vehicle decisions are planned for the long-term, whereas short-term price signals at the petrol station only have a limited impact. So, clear funding rules and reliable framework conditions are crucial,’ outlined Peckruhn. ‘If energy prices remain at an elevated level and at the same time the eligibility criteria and the application procedure for EV incentives are defined clearly, transparently and reliably, then there is a good chance of a noticeable revival of private demand for EVs in the coming quarters,’ he forecasted. Hybrid growth in Germany Hybrids, including full and mild hybrids, achieved a 17.4% uptick in deliveries during March. This marked its strongest monthly growth since December 2024, with a total of 87,850 units. It also ensured a 0.3pp increase in share to 29.9%, making it the most popular powertrain in Germany’s new-car market. Between January and March, hybrid volumes improved by 7.4%, with 206,566 units. This ensured a dominant 29.5% share, up 0.6pp year on year. Adding hybrids to the EV total, electrified deliveries increased by 31% in March. This gave the powertrain group a controlling 64.1% market share. Electrified volumes improved by 19.9% in the first quarter, with a slightly lower share of 63.2% compared to March alone. Can diesel recover? While diesel deliveries continued to decline last month, its performance was surprisingly encouraging. It saw registrations drop by just 0.6%, the fuel type’s best year-on-year result since its 3.7% growth in October 2024. However, its 37,664-unit total was only enough for a 12.8% market share, down 2.1pp year on year. Things looked slightly bleaker for diesel in the first quarter. Deliveries fell by 6.5% between January and March to 96,311 units, while its share went from 15.5% to 13.8%. Petrol suffered steeper declines in both March and the first three months of 2026. The fuel type saw a 4.9% slump to 66,959 units, as its hold loosened by 5pp to 22.8%. However, this did mark its best performance since its 3.7% growth in October 2024. In the first quarter, petrol volumes dropped by 16.1% to 159,058 units. It represented 22.7% of overall registrations, down from 28.5%. Combining petrol and diesel figures, the ICE market endured a 3.4% drop in March, as its market share fell from 42.7% to 35.6%. First quarter deliveries were down by 12.7%, while the powertrain group’s hold slipped by 7.5pp to 36.5%. * Editor's note: This article has been corrected since publication, with PHEV year-on-year growth in the first quarter 19.3%, not 41.3% as previously stated.

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What is an infotainment system?

Technological advances have rendered older in-car entertainment systems effectively obsolete. Now, carmakers combine entertainment and information as a central point of interior design. Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the rise of the infotainment system. The rapid development of technology has replaced in-vehicle cassette and CD players with new systems. While music streaming meant losing bulky radio units, the need to display more driver information required bigger screens. By combining information and entertainment, the infotainment system has been a step forward for interior vehicle design and functionality. These systems are now a staple of modern cars, but some developments have been a cause for concern. https://youtu.be/yVLCP0bfm-0 Growth of the infotainment system With the development of touchscreen technology, integrating displays into vehicles for data and control access is a logical step. These screens provide more than just music playback. They also offer access to a wide range of systems. These displays can provide navigation, views from external-facing cameras, as well as battery charge and health in electric vehicles (EVs). Many also feature Bluetooth connection for calls and smartphone integration. This allows users to bring their own music, apps and personal settings into the car. Meanwhile, the infotainment system can act as a control location for certain vehicle functions. Menus and sub-menus provide detailed access to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle customisation, driver profiles, and more. Some carmakers have even opted to reduce or remove physical buttons for certain systems. This produces a cleaner and sleeker interior design, but can also lead to potential safety issues. Are screens a distraction? The ability of an infotainment system to house various vehicle controls can free up space inside a car. However, with some controls buried in sub-menus, out of easy reach of the driver, there are concerns around distraction. Climate control, driving profiles, heated seats, and regenerative braking levels in EVs can be reduced from physical to digital buttons. But searching for these settings on a touchscreen can mean less focus on the road. Research published by TRL, on behalf of safety charity IAM Roadsmart in 2020, highlighted these concerns. Findings showed that driving performance was more negatively impacted when using touch controls compared with voice control. Study participants were able to keep their eyes on the road more when using voice control than touch control. They were also more likely to identify stimuli that required attention. Despite this, most participants in the study reported using touch rather than voice control in their real-world driving. Ensuring infotainment system safety The concerns over driver distraction have led to Euro NCAP making a button-based request of carmakers for 2026. The safety body is asking manufacturers to either offer physical controls or dedicate a fixed portion of the cabin display to primary driving functions. This includes the horn, indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights. So, the road ahead looks to be a matter of balance when it comes to infotainment systems. The technology will still need to support an increasing number of vehicle capabilities while also meeting higher consumer expectations. However, this will need to be levelled with control accessibility and driver attention.

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Stellantis sees surging registrations in EU new-car market

Car manufacturers have experienced contrasting fortunes in the EU’s new-car market so far this year. As Stellantis deliveries soared, other players saw sliding registrations. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, reviews the data. Within a stagnant EU new-car market, competition between carmakers continues to intensify. While some brands are gaining ground, others are seeing declines. This inconsistency is also apparent when looking at the biggest manufacturers, such as Stellantis. According to ACEA, the group enjoyed a 9.5% year-on-year delivery increase to 304,251 units between January and February. This equated to an additional 26,478 registrations. In turn, its share surged by 1.8 percentage points (pp) to 18.3%. Fiat and Opel registrations soar Stellantis’ growth in the EU was driven by Fiat and Opel. Compared to the first two months of 2025, the carmakers contributed a further 29,216 units to the group’s total. Between January and February, Fiat saw registrations surge by 42.1% year on year to 63,004 units. Consequently, its share rose by 1.2pp to 3.8%. Fiat was one of only two marques in the EU’s top 10 best-selling new-car brands to grow in this period. Opel’s slice of the EU new-car market widened to 3.2% from 2.5%. Volumes improved by 25.1% to 52,531 deliveries. A solid Citroën result also helped Stellantis achieve growth. The marque recorded an 8.3% rise to 60,345 registrations. Its share also notched up by 0.3pp to 3.6%. Peugeot plummets However, the manufacturer group’s highest volume brand counteracted these performances. Peugeot suffered a 5.2% delivery drop after two months of the year to 92,704 units. The carmaker still accounted for 30.5% of Stellantis’ overall registrations. With such a high share within the group, any decline from the French brand has a big impact. Peugeot represented 5.6% of the total EU new-car market, down from 5.8% at the same point in 2025. Meanwhile, Jeep saw stable registrations in the first two months of 2026, with a 0.8% delivery increase. However, this was to a lower volume of 20,866 units. Based on smaller volumes, Alfa Romeo and DS suffered double-digit declines across January and February. Alfa Romeo struggled with a 16.3% drop, while DS saw deliveries fall by 21.5%. However, combined registrations of Lancia and Chrysler models rose by 15.9%. Renault Group’s downbeat result Renault Group endured a steep decline in the year to date. Deliveries slumped by 16.1% to 161,262 units. Its share also fell from 11.4% to 9.7%. Dacia appeared to drive this trend. A 30.9% drop for the brand translated to 63,579 units, as its market hold dropped by 1.7pp to 3.8%. This meant Dacia trailed the Renault brand by 32,818 registrations across the first two months of 2026. In comparison, the gap between the two brands stood at just 7,018 units during the same period of 2025. The Renault brand suffered a 2.7% drop to 96,397 deliveries in the year to date. Its share remained relatively stable at 5.8%, down just 0.1pp year on year. Conversely, Alpine recorded a 10.3% increase in registrations on significantly lower volumes of 1,286 units. Stagnant VW Group registrations As Stellantis surged and Renault Group slipped, Volkswagen (VW) Group’s registrations were down only slightly. Volumes dropped 0.7% between January and February to 449,294 units. However, as many carmakers suffered declining deliveries, the manufacturer’s share improved by 0.1pp to 27%. VW Group’s stagnation was the result of contrasting performances from its two highest volume marques. The VW brand witnessed a 7% decline after two months of 2026, with 176,570 deliveries. It accounted for 10.6% of overall registrations, down from 11.3% during the same period of last year. Meanwhile, Skoda saw a 14.5% surge to 116,650 units. In turn, its share jumped by 1pp to 7%. Audi volumes were nearly unchanged year on year. The brand’s 81,804 deliveries across January and February represented a 0.1% dip, as it kept its 4.9% market hold. SEAT had a slightly better performance, with a 1.8% uptick to 30,782 registrations. This gave the carmaker a 1.8% share, stable from 2025. However, Cupra and Porsche counteracted these results. The former faced an 11.4% fall to 32,151 units after two months of 2026. Cupra accounted for 1.9% of overall volumes, down 0.3pp year on year. Porsche posted an 10.6% slump to 10,159 registrations, with a 0.1pp drop in share to 0.6%. BYD continues triple-digit growth While some struggled, BYD maintained its strong upward trajectory in the EU during January and February. It maintained triple-digit delivery growth, with a 179.2% surge to 29,291 units. The brand captured 1.8% of the EU’s new car market, up 1.2pp year on year. Tesla also enjoyed growth, with deliveries up 16.7% compared to the first two months of 2025. The brand’s 20,941 registrations ensured a 1.3% share, up 0.2pp. Honda achieved a double-digit delivery increase, as well. However, this was based on a lower figure of 7,888 units, as its market share rose by 0.1pp to 0.5%. SAIC Motor managed a 6.6% growth between January and February, with 32,214 new models taking to EU roads. It made up 1.9% of overall volumes, up 0.1pp year on year. Meanwhile, registrations of new Mazda models improved by 0.5%. With 17,757 deliveries, it took a 1.1% market share, up from 1% during the same period of 2025. Mitsubishi’s registrations woes However, these examples of growth were few and far between. On the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi suffered a 43.3% slump in the first two months of 2026. The brand’s 3,828-unit total translated to a 0.2% share, down from 0.4%. Ford endured a tough result as well, with volumes dropping 21.5% between January and February to 41,039 units. The marque captured 2.5% of overall registrations in the EU, down from 3.1% in the first two months of 2025. JLR posted a 14.3% slump year on year to 8,376 units. Its slice of the new-car market thinned by 0.1pp to 0.5%. Within the group, Land Rover recorded a less severe decline of 10.2%. However, this was compounded by Jaguar’s absence, down from 446 registrations between January and February 2025. Another double-digit drop was recorded for Suzuki. Deliveries slid 14% year on year to 22,957 units, while its share fell by 0.2pp to 1.4%. A similar trend occurred at Volvo Cars, with its 33,143-unit total representing a 12.8% decline. It captured 2% of overall volumes, down from 2.3%. Adding to the list of carmakers with falling registrations, Nissan felt a 12.2% downturn after two months of the year. It represented 1.9% of the EU’s new-car market with 31,884 registrations. More registrations declines Hyundai Group, made up of Kia and Hyundai, posted a 9.2% fall year on year to 115,614 registrations. The group captured 6.9% of total volumes in the first two months of 2026, down 0.7pp. Kia experienced a more marginal drop of 1.8%, with 60,044 registrations giving it a 3.6% share, stable year on year. However, Hyundai fuelled the group’s slump, after a 16% decline to 55,570 deliveries. In turn, its share fell 0.6pp to 3.3%. Toyota Group posted a similar headline figure and decline. The brand recorded 126,354 units after two months of 2026, down 7.7% year on year. Unsurprisingly, its grip on the new-car market loosened by 0.5pp to 7.6%. Lexus saw a significant drop of 20.9% compared to the same period of 2025, while Toyota brand registrations slipped by 6.5%. The latter’s 117,510-unit total translated to a 7.1% share, down 0.4pp year on year. BMW Group also entered six-digit figures after two months of deliveries. Yet the manufacturer still suffered a 3.6% decline to 109,790 units. It made up 6.6% of overall volumes, down from 6.8%. This came despite Mini’s 5% increase to 17,628 units, which helped boost its share by 0.1pp to 1.1%. However, a 5.1% drop for the BMW brand ensured the group’s negative result. A total of 92,162 new models from the carmaker were delivered, as its share went from 5.8% to 5.5%. Mercedes-Benz also endured falling volumes after two months of 2026. The marque recorded a 1.2% decline to 74,422 units. This ensured a 4.5% share, stable from the same period one year prior.

EV electric car charging in green sustainable city outdoor garden in summer. Urban sustainability lifestyle by green clean rechargeable energy of electric BEV vehicle innards|

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Global new PHEV market sees difficult start to 2026

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales declined at the start of 2026. The plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) market felt the largest drop, but did all models experience the same fall? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores the numbers. According to the latest data from EV Volumes, the global EV market fell by 9.5% year on year in January. In total, 1,156,731 PHEVs and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in the new passenger car market. Even with the inclusion of extended-range electric vehicles, PHEVs felt a sizeable drop, with 381,254 deliveries. This result was down by 20.6% from the figures recorded in January 2025. It marked a sizable downturn from the 1.6% growth recorded in December. However, the powertrain only accounted for a third of the global EV market in January. BEVs made up the remaining 67%. The pure-electric powertrain recorded 775,477 sales, which equated to a year-on-year drop of 2.8%. This was the first BEV drop since February 2024, according to EV Volumes. So, while the global PHEV market saw a larger fall, it made up a smaller proportion of the international EV market. However, in terms of units, there were 99,109 fewer PHEVs sold in January, but only 22,044 fewer BEVs. But did all models see similar declines? Balanced fall of PHEV models Of the top 10 best-selling PHEVs in January, five models recorded sales declines while the remainder enjoyed positive results. This confirms the rapidly changing face of the market, with new offerings challenging established players for dominance. The Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 saw sales first kick off in the third quarter of 2025. Since then, it has seen volumes accelerate, taking the lead of the global PHEV market. In total, the model recorded 17,553 deliveries, making up 4.6% of all the powertrain’s sales. Exemplifying the market split, the BYD Song Plus, also known as the Seal U, saw its sales drop by 47.3%. These 13,293 units accounted for 3.5% of the global PHEV market, down from 5.2% in January 2025. Another more established leader, the BYD Song Pro, recorded a delivery decline of 39.5%. Its 12,590 sales made up 3.3% of all PHEV sales, down from 4.3% in January 2025, putting it in third. New PHEV challenge The Aito M7 saw a sales uptick of 41% to 11,901 units in fourth. This meant its market share increased by 1.3 percentage points (pp) to 3.1%. Behind it, the BYD Qin Plus recorded a 47.4% sales drop, with 8,353 units moved. Its share fell by 1.1pp to 2.2%. In sixth, the Zeekr 9X captured 1.7% of the global PHEV market with 6,602 units sold. With deliveries commencing in September last year, this confirms a steep upward curve in buyer interest. Seventh went to the BYD Seal 06. Its 6,405 sales equated to a 57.3% decline from January 2025. This pushed its market share down from 3.1% to 1.7%. Behind it, the Jaecoo J7 saw its share grow by 1.1pp to 1.5%. This was thanks to a 208.8% increase in demand to 5,802 units. Ninth went to the Volvo XC60 as its share only slid by 0.1pp to 1.4%. However, its sales slumped by 25.1% year on year to 5,362 units. With 5,316 sales, the Aito M8 was in hot pursuit, taking 1.4% of the market as well. The chief difference is that the M8 first recorded sales in April 2025, while the Volvo XC60 is a familiar market presence. New BEVs racing to top The global BEV market was led by a familiar model at the start of this year. The Tesla Model Y recorded 54,786 deliveries, down by 11.2% year on year. This meant its hold on the market weakened by 0.6pp to 7.1%. The Xiaomi YU7, which first recorded sales in June 2025, saw 37,956 units delivered, equating to a 4.9% share. The Nio ES8, also known as the EL8, represented 2.4% of all BEV volumes with 18,558 units. Following the launch of its third generation in September last year, it has seen sales climb. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf, came fourth in the month with 17,448 sales. This was down 19.6% on January 2025 as its share hit 2.2%, down 0.5pp. After first recording sales in September last year, the Li Auto I6 finished fifth with 16,876 units moved. It accounted for 2.2% of all BEVs sold. The Tesla Model 3 came next as it moved 16,535 units, down 35%. Its market share dropped to 2.1% from 3.2% a year ago. The Geely Geome Xingyuan, also known as the EX2, finished seventh. Its sales declined by 41.6% to 16,442 units, capturing 2.1% of the market, down 1.4pp. The BYD Dolphin finished eighth with 15,812 sales, up 60.3%, allowing it to increase its stake to 2% from 1.2%. After first recording sales in September 2025, the Aito M7 reached 13,129 sales in January, equating to a 1.7% share. The BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2, came 10th. Its sales fell by 29.1% year on year to 11,702 units. This gave it a 1.5% share, down from 2.1% a year earlier.

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BYD enjoys growth amid declining new-car sales in the EU

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.

25 February 2026

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What was the best-selling EV brand in China in 2025?

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.

13 February 2026

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The Automotive Update: Which brands sold the most EV models in 2025?

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. Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music. The world’s best-selling EV brand 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.

12 February 2026

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Which brand sold the most EVs in 2025?

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%.

11 February 2026

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The Automotive Update: Major carmaker partnerships on the cards?

Which carmakers are considering partnerships? What are the fastest-selling used cars across Europe? How might the EU's automotive package impact battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus reveals all in The Automotive Update podcast. In this episode, an update on a potential partnership between major automotive manufacturers. Plus, a look at how used-car markets performed across European countries during January. Finally, what are the latest views on the EU’s automotive package? Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music. Potential automotive partnerships? Ford and Geely are in partnership talks, according to a number of people familiar with the matter, Reuters has reported. Discussions are apparently advancing, particularly around manufacturing locations. Geely may be able to use Ford’s factory in Spain to produce vehicles for the region, navigating import tariffs. Sources close to the matter also revealed a possible framework for exploring autonomous driving and other technologies. This could help curb costs at a time when development is steering decision making. Separately, Renault is expected to build a small electric vehicle engine with parts from Shanghai e-drive, as reported by L’Argus. The entry-level drive component will be built at the carmaker’s site in Cléon, Northern France. It will also be used in Dacia and Mitsubishi models. A new production line is anticipated in early 2027 and is set to produce 120,000 units annually. Renault currently imports Shanghai e-drive components for its Twingo model, according to Reuters. Fastest-selling used cars European used-car markets could soon see increased demand, as revealed in the latest Monthly Market update. Consumer price indices appear resolutely high as affordability remains a sticking point. Meanwhile, new-car list prices continued to climb in Europe last month. Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK all recorded year-on-year increases. Some used models are already seeing quick selling times. Austria saw the fastest model-selling time of the observed markets with the Audi Q3. In Switzerland and the UK, the Tesla Model Y sold the fastest. The Toyota Yaris moved quickly in France, while its stablemate, the Toyota Corolla, saw fast sales in Spain. Meanwhile, the Volvo XC40 spent the least amount of time on dealership forecourts in Germany. Automotive package update concerns Sustainable mobility group, Transport and Environment (T&E), has released a position paper citing potential results of changes to emissions targets. In mid-December last year, the European Commission published its automotive package proposal. This outlined possible changes to the current new-car emissions targets. Key to this was the possibility of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales in the EU after 2035. T&E claim that moving the 2035 CO2 reduction target from 100% to 90% will reduce the expected BEV share from 100% to 85%. It also believes the package will introduce greater uncertainty. The paper outlined that BEV sales could fall by between 50% and 95%, depending on the powertrain strategy. Additionally, adopting an average target between 2030 and 2032 is also expected to have a negative impact. T&E forecast a 10-percentage point reduction in the BEV share in 2030, down to 47%

5 February 2026