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Surprising start to 2026 for Europe’s largest used-car markets

There were some mixed results for the big five used-car markets in Europe. But which countries impressed, and which have work to do as 2026 progresses? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry analyses the latest figures.

Europe’s big five used-car markets saw mixed results in the first quarter of 2026. Two markets experienced growth, one remained stable, and two suffered declines.

It was the smaller markets of Spain and Italy that saw the best results between January and March. Meanwhile, the UK suffered a slight decline that brought an end to 12 quarters of growth. Both Germany and France struggled, the latter seeing results mirror its new-car market woes.

Most of the big five used-car markets suffered a decline in transactions during January. This weighed on their quarterly result, with only. Spain and Italy, offsetting the losses after subsequent monthly sales improvements. In comparison, all five used-car markets grew in 2025. This means the UK, Germany and France will be hoping fortunes improve in the coming quarters.

The results also show internal-combustion engines (ICE) continue to dominate in countries where different powertrain figures are reported.

This contrasts with new-car market trends. Buyers appear to be turning to used cars, as supplies into new channels dwindle. However, there are signs of a shift in powertrain dynamics, as used transactions of petrol and diesel begin to slide.

Spain impresses again

Spain saw the best result of Europe’s big five used-car markets in the first quarter of 2026. Yet the period was not without its struggles. Figures published by GANVAM, and analysed by Autovista24, show the market grew by 2.9% between January and March. In total, 531,767 models changed hands in the period.

The year got off to a difficult start. January saw a 6% slip, with 157,776 transactions. This equated to 10,115 fewer models in the month.

However, February saw a slight recovery. With 177,150 units changing hands, this was a 4.3% year-on-year rise. The 7,334 extra transactions cut into the deficit created by January’s poor showing.

March then pushed the country’s used-car sector back into positive territory. With 196,841 transactions, figures increased by 10%, according to Autovista24 analysis. This was an increase of 17,916 sales, giving the quarter a rise of 15,095 models changing hands.

Used-car EV share increases

According to GANVAM, sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are gaining ground in Spain’s used-car market. The industry authority reported that 8,886 all-electric models were sold between January and March, a 48.8% rise. Meanwhile, sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) rose by 51.3%, reaching 13,710 units.

The association stated that electric vehicles (EVs) made up 4.2% of the total transactions in the first quarter. This was up from plug-in’s 2.9% share recorded a year prior.

As this increase continues, sales of ICE models are declining in Spain. Although diesel accounted for 47.8% of all transactions, it recorded a drop of almost 6%. Meanwhile, petrol sales fell by 1.3%, reaching a share of 35.8% in the quarter.

The industry association also highlighted that the Spanish used-car market is being driven by growth in newer models. Passenger cars up to five years old grew by 10.4% in the first quarter. The age group represented more than 27% of the total volume.

Meanwhile, vehicles over 15 years of age saw a 1.7% decline. These older models do, however, still account for four in every 10 transactions.

The country’s Sustainable Mobility Law could help in Spain’s desired transition to a younger vehicle fleet. The legislation has not yet been fully implemented by the Spanish government. It would incentivise the removal of the oldest and most polluting vehicles from circulation.

‘This would not only contribute to accelerating the achievement of emissions reduction targets, but also to reducing the average age of the fleet, with the important benefit that this implies for road safety,’ GANVAM stated.

Italy bounces back

After a disappointing start to the year, Italy’s used-car market bounced back to end the quarter on a positive note. Based on data from ANFIA, a total of 1,503,591 transactions took place in the period. This was a 1.8% increase compared to the same three months of 2025.

The result looked very different after January. With 444,303 sales, the market ended the month down by 5.8%. This represented 27,594 fewer transactions, according to Autovista24 analysis. The result was the first decline in the used-car market since May 2025.

However, this negative trend did not continue. In February, 506,696 models swapped hands, a 2.2% increase. Yet this additional 10,724 units could not make up for the loss in January.

But March proved to be the quarter’s saviour. With 552,592 transactions, Italy’s used-car market saw a monthly jump of 8.5%. The extra 43,105 models changing owners pushed the quarter into a positive result.

Italy’s automotive market will be hoping to ride this wave of improvement into the rest of the year.

UK sees growth streak end

The UK’s used-car sales market did not get off to the best start in 2026, with transactions remaining relatively stable after the first three months of the year.

According to the latest figures from the SMMT, a total of 2,016,232 transactions took place between January and March. This was a 0.2% decline compared to the first quarter of 2025.

The drop equated to just 4,758 fewer used-car sales in the period, based on Autovista24 calculations. The result ended a 12-quarter growth streak that dated back to the first three months of 2022.

The year got off to a good start, with January seeing a 1.7% increase in used-car sales volumes year on year. In total, 670,797 passenger cars changed hands in the month, a rise of 11,115 units. The UK was the only one of the big five European markets to see growth in the first month of the year.

However, February set a tone for the period. With 652,190 transactions, this was a 0.1% increase, with just 407 extra units compared to the second month of 2025.

March was the worst-performing month of the quarter. Volumes fell by 2.3%, wiping out the efforts from the first two months of the year. The 693,245 sales were down by 16,280 units compared to the same period in 2025. Yet last year saw the best March result since 2017, providing a high benchmark for the 2026 results to live up to.

Record results for BEVs

BEVs saw the biggest jump in used transactions year on year. The powertrain saw an increase of 32% compared to 2025 in the UK, as 86,943 models moved to new owners. This represented a 4.3% share of total used-car volumes, up from 3.3% a year prior.

Full hybrids also saw strong growth in the quarter, up 29.6% with 128,039 transactions. This was enough for a 6.4% share, according to Autovista24 calculations.

But it was not all plain sailing for electric models. Sales of PHEVs fell by 14.9%, the steepest decline of any fuel type. However, this was based on a smaller figure of 20,021 transactions between January and March 2026. PHEVs took a 1% market share.

Petrol remains the most popular fuel type when it comes to used-car transactions. Their sales remained fairly stable in the first quarter of the year, with a 0.2% dip. In total, 1,147,969 models changed hands, a fall of just 2,159 units. The powertrain made up 56.9% of the total volume.

Diesel saw a 7.3% fall in transactions, with 629,987 models finding new owners in the three-month period. With a 31.2% market share, the fuel type is still a popular choice amongst buyers.

‘The UK’s used-car market remained flat in the first quarter, held back by weakness in March in comparison with a very strong performance in 2025,’ commented SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes. ‘Better news is the record demand for used electric vehicles, as growing choice from manufacturers feeds through into the second-hand market.’

Germany experiences used-car struggles

Germany’s used-car market struggled during the first quarter of 2026. This is despite the country seeing its best monthly transaction figure in almost five years.

In total, 1,609,677 passenger cars changed hands in the first three months of the year. This was a 1.6% decline compared to the same period in 2025, according to Autovista24 analysis of available KBA data.

Much of this loss can be attributed to a poor market performance in January. During the first month of the year, 504,170 transactions took place, a 10.5% drop year on year. This equated to 59,369 fewer units moving to new ownership. February was also a poor month, with the 500,119 unit volume down by 3.5%.

However, the market was able to bounce back in March. The 605,378 transaction total was the highest monthly volume since Jul y 2021. This provided a 9.1% boost, although the additional 50,439 units were not enough to overcome earlier losses.

This performance contrasts with Germany’s new-car market, which saw registrations soar by 5.2% in the quarter. So, the market will be hoping that used-car transactions can gather pace in the remaining months of the year.

France suffers in first quarter

The worst-performing used-car market in Europe’s big five during the first quarter of the year was France. The country’s entire automotive market appears to be struggling, with neither new nor used-car volumes able to record growth.

According to figures from AAA Data, analysed by Autovista24, the country’s used-car transactions fell 2.5% between January and March. In total, 1,330,153 models changed hands, a fall of 33,582 transactions compared to the same period last year.

Like other markets, France was undone by a particularly disappointing January. However, it was unable to recover, despite better performances in February and March, leaving it at the bottom of the big five pile.

The first month of the year saw used-car sales fall 9.6%, with 413,525 models finding new owners. This was a drop of 44,145 sales year on year. February remained stable, with a 0.1% rise as 439,649 transactions took place, 301 more than the second month of 2025.

March continued this upward trend. With 476,979 sales, the used-car market grew 2.2%. Despite this, the additional 10,257 transactions were not enough to push the market into a positive result for the quarter.

The French new-car market also experienced a 2.1% drop in volumes during the period. Therefore, the country will be hoping for better results in the rest of the year.

ICE domination drives used-car decline

According to AAA Data, January’s result was due to a sharp decline in ICE transactions. Petrol fell by 14%, as the fuel type held a 38% market share. Diesel sales dropped 12%, with a 44% share of total volumes. The weight of these powertrains in the market, therefore, dragged overall figures into a drop.

In February, ICE volumes continued their decline, as petrol transaction dropped 4%, while diesel fell by 3%. At the same time, sales of BEVs increased by 23%, reaching a 4% market share in the month.

Meanwhile, PHEVs saw a 21% rise in models changing hands, reaching a 6% share of volumes. This, AAA Data states, represents a slow shift in the powertrain dynamic of the French used-car market.

In March, used BEVs saw a 47% jump in volumes, maintaining a 4% market share. Meanwhile, diesel transactions fell 4%, although the powertrain still accounted for 42% of the market. Petrol sales fell 2%, taking a 38% hold overall.

Leasing is also making inroads into the used-car market in France. It reached 5.1% of total transactions in March 2026 compared to only 2.7% in March 2021.

According to AAA Data, several factors explain this rise in leasing. These include the high prices of recent cars and the ever-increasing availability of cars from a previous lease agreement in the used-car market. The rise of electrified cars and the continued development of used-car purchases by companies are also playing their part.

The Automotive Update: Which brands are leading Europe’s major new-car markets?

How did Europe’s big five new-car markets perform in April? Did electrified powertrains play a significant role? Plus, what were the best-selling cars in each market during the month? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry reveals all in the Automotive Update podcast.

In this episode, a comprehensive look at new-car market fortunes in Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Italy. Also, a focus on electrified powertrain performances in each country. Plus, an overview of the best-selling passenger car brands.

Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music.

BEVs help boost German new-car market

Deliveries of new cars in Germany rose by 2.7% year-on-year in April, according to the KBA.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded year-on-year growth of 41.3%, with a market share of 25.8% in the month. This was just 2.4 percentage points below market-leading hybrids, including full and mild versions.

Meanwhile, the 13.3% improvement of plug-in-hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), while strong, was lower than any monthly growth recorded in 2025.

Volkswagen (VW), Germany’s most popular brand, endured a 6.7% delivery decline. Mercedes-Benz enjoyed a year-on-year improvement of 4.9% as it sat second, while new BMW volumes fell by 0.5% in third.

BYD posted a 200.4% year-on-year improvement, which was bested by Tesla’s 255.8% surge, despite a lower delivery total. Meanwhile, Leapmotor saw an even greater improvement of 331.5%.

Petrol remains popular in the UK

The UK’s new-car market experienced a 24% increase in April. New petrol sales, which includes mild hybrid volumes, aided this improvement, according to SMMT data.

As BEVs achieved their two millionth registration in the month, the powertrain saw its volumes increase 59.1% year-on-year.

PHEVs saw a 46.4% rise, taking a 13.8% slice of the market. Meanwhile, Full hybrids gained 18.8% compared to the same period in 2025.

VW was the best-selling brand during April. The German carmaker saw volumes jump 23% year on year. Kia followed with a registrations slice of 7.2%. Then came BMW, up by 7.6%, compared to April 2025.

The fastest growing brand in the UK was Alpine, which saw its numbers rise 554.4%. Meanwhile, Leapmotor saw volumes jump 437%. Jaecoo also performed well, experiencing a 268.2% increase in deliveries.

France flailing in April

New-car registrations in France remained broadly stable in April, with a 0.3% decline in volumes, according to PFA and AAA Data.

Autovista24 analysis showed that BEV deliveries rose by 41.8%, helping lift a sluggish new-car sector overall. Conversely, both PHEV and hybrid volumes declined year on year.

Renault topped the country’s automotive brands table in the month, according to AAA Data. However, the French manufacturer saw deliveries fall by 11.5%. It was still some way ahead of second-placed Peugeot, with the Stellantis brand seeing a 2.8% increase in volumes.

Impressive electrification in Italy

Italy’s new-car market rose by 11.6% year on year, according to ANFIA. This was enabled by an eye-catching result for both EVs and hybrids.

BEVs saw the strongest percentage growth of 98.8%, with PHEVs chalked up a 73.2% improvement. Despite this, the two technologies’ market shares remained under 10%.

Hybrids contributed the most additional units compared to 12 months prior, even with a lower growth of 24.3%. The technology dominated the market, with a 48.8% share.

Fiat was the best-selling brand in Italy’s new-car market during April. The carmaker saw volumes soar by 31% in its domestic market. Meanwhile, Leapmotor emerged as the fastest growing brand, with a 1,300.6% increase year on year.

Spain’s new-car growth span continues

Spain’s new-car sector was the most consistent market in 2025, and this trend has continued into 2026. April saw 106,862 units delivered to customers, a jump of 8.5%, based on Autovista24 analysis of data provided by ANFAC.

The BEV market saw a leap of 42.3%, according to Autovista24 calculation of figures from Faconauto and ACEA. This was despite delays in the launch of Spain’s new incentive scheme for electric vehicle (EV) purchases, although applications can be applied retroactively.

Like Italy, PHEVs were the dominant EV choice, with registrations rising 42.9% year on year. Hybrids meanwhile dominated the market in April. The technology saw year-on-year registrations growth of 23.3%, providing it with a 47% share of total volumes.

According to data from Ganvam, Toyota was the leading brand in Spain during April, as the carmaker’s volumes increased by 2.8%.

Xpeng emerged as the fastest-growing marque, experiencing an increase of 460.6%. Leapmotor continued its strong run across Europe’s big five markets, with a 176.6% improvement year on year.

UK new LCV market sees welcome growth in April

New light-commercial vehicle (LCV) sales enjoyed positive year-on-year growth in April as electric van demand increased hand in hand. However, zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets remain a distant goal. Andy Picton, specialist residual value analyst at Glass’s, considers the trends with Autovista24 web editor James Roberts.

According to SMMT data, new LCV registrations grew in April by 6.8% year on year. In total, 21,716 vans, chassis, pickups and 4x4s joined UK roads for the first time.

Behind this encouraging overall growth, market performance was mixed. Pickup demand slumped 57.4% to 1,166 units. This ensured volume declines in 11 of the past 12 months, since the changes to benefit-in-kind (BIK) rules. Vans under 2 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) declined 14.4%, while those between 2 and 2.5 tonnes GVW dropped 20%.

On a positive note, the 4×4 sector registered 1,024 units, up 81.6% on April last year. Meanwhile, the large van sector saw demand for vans and chassis weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes GVW grow by 28.5% over the same period. These 15,561 units accounted for 71.7% of all units registered during the month.

Despite this, the latest registration forecast for 2026 has been revised downwards again. 314,000 units are expected to be delivered this year, down 1,422 units from 2025. The forecast is also 7,000 units down on the first quarter outlook.

Battery-electric vans weighing to 3.5 tonnes are expected to rise from 28,000 units to 35,000 units. This would equate to a 25% increase and a 11.1% market share. This figure, though, remains less than half of the ZEV Mandate ambition.

Wider UK LCV growth

More generally, the latest 2025 Motorparc data covers the overall number of LCVs in use on UK roads. These figures reflect a robust vehicle fleet. However, the move towards zero-emission targets remains sluggish.

Van volumes grew to record levels, up by 1.4% to 5,175,598 units. The most popular vans on the road were the Ford Transit Custom with 554,581 units, followed by the Ford Transit, at 495,971 units. The Volkswagen (VW) Transporter followed with 379,185 units. Of all vehicle types, LCVs have shown the strongest long-term growth, up 29.2% since 2015.

Within the overall total, battery electric vans grew by 34.6% to exceed 100,000 for the first time. In total, 113,256 all-electric models are now in operation across the country, making up 2.2% of LCVs in service.

By region, more LCVs are owned in the South-East than in any other part of the country at 918,991 units, making up a 17.8% share. Of that number, 3.2% were battery-electric vans. This was the highest all-electric share of any region, followed closely behind by the London area with 3.1%.

Ford tops April’s LCV rankings

April saw Ford claim the top two positions, with the Transit Custom and the Transit respectively. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter took third, the Renault Trafic ended the month in fourth and the Peugeot Partner placed fifth.

The VW Transporter finished sixth, registering 957 units, ahead of the Vauxhall Vivaro in seventh with 952 deliveries. Then came the Land Rover Defender in eighth with 759 units. The Citroen Berlingo secured ninth with 709 units and the Kia PV5 completed the top 10 with 586 units.

April’s electric LCV market analysis

Battery-electric van registrations up to 4.25 tonnes GVW was up 44.7% in April. The 2,439 units sold resulted in a monthly market share of 11.1%, up from 8.3% 12 months prior. However, nearly 83% of all vehicles registered in the month were diesel, highlighting the scale of the task at hand in transitioning operators to ZEVs.

Across the first four months of the year, 9,835 units have been registered, up 12% compared to the same period of 2025. This ensured a 9.4% market share, well below the ZEV mandate target of 24% for this year.

Electric LCV sales by brand

Ford accounted for over a quarter of all new battery-electric vans registered in April. Kia followed behind with 24%, and VW in third with a 22.9% share. Some distance behind was Maxus in fourth with a 6.1% market share and Vauxhall in fifth with a 5.5% hold.

Further down the list, Toyota claimed sixth position with 106 units and a 4.3% market share. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz finished seventh with 91 registrations and 3.7% of the market. Renault ended the month in eighth, selling 72 units, and with it, a 2.9% market share. Farizon claimed ninth with 26 units and a 1.1% hold. Citroen rounded out the top ten, registering 16 units and taking a 0.6% market share.

By range, the Kia PV5 led the way for the second month running, accounting for 24% of all battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo followed with a 15.4% hold. Meanwhile, the Ford E-Transit Custom and e-Transporter ended up third and fourth, with shares of 15% and 7.5%, respectively. The Ford E-Transit claimed fifth, with 7% of all registrations.

Lower placed rankings saw the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric and the Maxus eDeliver 9 finish joint sixth with 109 units. The Ford E-Transit Courier was eighth with 100 units and the Mercedes-Benz e-Citan was ninth with 62 units. Completing the top 10 was the Renault Master E-Tech with 57 units sold.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) van segment saw five different manufacturers register a combined 1,033 units. Ford led the way with 484 Transit Custom vans, 198 Ranger pickups and 122 Transit Connect PHEVs. Toyota followed with 124 Corolla Commercial vans, ahead of 98 VW Caddy PHEV vans. Dacia registered six Duster Cargo vans and LEVC delivered one new VN5 van.

Between January and April, of the 6,188 hybrid LCVs registered, Ford claimed a dominant 83.4% market share. Toyota followed with a 10.6% share, ahead of VW with a 5.8% hold.

Used LCV market overview

The anticipated influx of de-fleeted stock from fleet, rental and finance providers following the March plate change did not materialise. These vehicles are likely to start being de-fleeted in the next month or so.

Good quality stock is still available, with elevated levels of buyer engagement at most auctions. Sub-two-year-old offerings can struggle against competitive deals for new ‘26-plate vehicles.

Despite this, two-to-four-year-old ready-to-retail stock with typically less than 70,000 miles continues to attract plenty of attention. Buyers are willing to pay strongly for the right vehicle and a full-service history. Additionally, there has been strong interest in older, higher-mileage stock offered in fair condition and realistically priced.

Stock age increased in April

Factors such as ageing stock in poorer condition meant a drop in the number of vehicles sold at auction in April. The Easter holidays and good weather also influenced the decline in sales.

Overall average age increased from 69.7 months to 72.1 months. Average mileage also increased, rising from 73,206 miles to 82,548 miles. Elsewhere, first-time conversion rates worsened by 2.8% to 76.4%, 3.4% lower year on year. Finally, average sales prices fell by nearly 9% over the month

Euro 6 vehicles accounted for 85.3% of sales in April. Euro 5 sales made up 11.4%, up 0.6% on March. Medium vans led demand with 36.8% of sales, followed by large vans at 29.5%, and small vans 22.3%.

The 4×4 Pickup sector took 11.2% of the market, an increase of 0.5% on March. This sector commanded the highest average sales price at just under £11,250 (€12,984). This was a £3,250 decrease on the average paid in the previous month.

Large vans covered more distance than any other LCV type in April at an average of 84,734 miles. This was up 13,735 miles compared to March. The small van sector returned the highest first-time conversion rate at 79.5%, while the lowest was achieved in the 4×4 sector at 71.1%.

Increase in used electric LCV demand

Despite the prevailing preference for petrol and diesel, there has been a noticeable increase in the volumes of used electric LCVs available at auction. Of those sold, many have cited the inclusion of battery health data in the vehicle description as a big step forward. This is giving consumers a more informed picture during transactions.

Electric van performance in April was mixed. On the one hand, overall sales fell by a third. However, those that sold were a lot younger and with significantly fewer miles. Average stock age nearly halved from 69.5 months to 35.8 months. Meanwhile, average mileage fell from 51,166 miles to 20,712 miles.

This younger age-mileage profile resulted in the average sale prices rising by £4,000, from just under £5,900 to nearly £9,900. First-time conversion rates rose nearly 10%, from 74.3% to 84.1%. Sales of medium-sized electric vans proved popular, accounting for 55.5% of all sales in the month. Small vans took a 41.3% share and large vans made up 3.2% of overall transactions.

The highest mileages were covered in the large van sector, averaging over 74,850 miles. The lowest mileage was recorded in the medium van sector at 16,500 miles. Medium-sized electric vans attained the highest average sales price at over £11,500, while the highest first-time conversion rate of 100% was achieved in the large van sector. 44.4% of all electric vans sold in April were between two-to-four years of age.

Retail increases recorded

The number of used vehicles observed for sale in the retail market in April increased by 3% to just over 42,400 units.

Diesel models made up the bulk of those on sale at 90.7%, up 1.1% on the previous month. Battery-electric LCVs accounted for 5.3%, ahead of PHEVs 2.1% share, and petrol’s 1.6% hold. LCVs with manual gearboxes accounted for 66.4% of retail sales.

Panel vans accounted for 56.1% of all LCVs on sale, 13.4% were 4×4 pickups, and 9.2% were crew vans. Minibuses made up 3.9% and dropsides claimed a 1.7% share. Luton vans and tippers represented 1.7% and 1.5% of sales, respectively. Of all the LCVs on sale, 40.8% had mileages of 30,000 miles or less. 29.0% had mileages between 30,000 miles and 70,000 miles, while 13.5% had mileages above 100,000 miles.

43.5% of vehicles listed were priced at £20,000 or more, 38.1% were priced between £10,000 and £20,000, while 14.8% sat in the £5,000 to £10,000 range. Vans priced below £5,000 accounted for 3.6% of the market. Just over 73.8% of all adverts showed the vehicle on sale for a price excluding VAT.

White vans led in popularity, accounting for 47.9% of all listings. Grey represented 18.4% of sales and black took a 10.8% share. 9.7% of all vans listed were silver, 6.2% were blue and 2.1% were red. The average vehicle age for April increased by three months to 55 months. Average mileage also rose, up 6.5% to just under 56,200 miles.

Sensational sales surge in Italy’s new-car market

Italy’s new-car market surged forward in April, as electrified vehicles continued to provide momentum. More generally, other powertrains, sales channels, and even individual brands prospered. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, reviews the figures.

In April, a total of 155,145 new cars were registered in Italy, a rise of 11.6% year on year. According to ANFIA data, this was the market’s second double-digit increase in 2026. It also marked the country’s fifth consecutive month of growth. The result was boosted by an additional working day in April 2026 compared to one year prior.

Strong sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) proved pivotal. Additionally, private buyers were identified as the key growth driver in April.

‘Private customers were the main force supporting demand during the month, as the only channel to record double-digit growth. They accounted for almost 50% of all registrations in April,’ said ANFIA president Roberto Vavassori.

After four months of 2026, registrations increased by 9.8% in Italy, with 639,736 units leaving forecourts. This equated to a further 56,882 deliveries compared to the same period in 2025, according to Autovista24 analysis. ‘In light of the trend recorded in the first four months of 2026, we have revised our full-year forecast upwards. The market could now target volumes around 10% higher than in 2025,’ projected Vavassori.

Uncertain market environment

Despite the positive headline figures, industry experts have warned that the underlying market environment remains uncertain.

‘The market is moving but remains trapped by the fragility of the wider environment. Without a stable and predictable framework, demand is put on hold,’ said Roberto Pietrantonio, president of UNRAE.

‘Today, the real issue is confidence. Families and businesses are postponing decisions because the environment is changing faster than their certainty,’ he confirmed.

Confidence concerns are also currently a key theme for dealers in Italy. According to UNRAE, delayed government electric vehicle (EV) incentive repayments are leaving some forecourts financially exposed.

Usually, dealers discount the car for the customer upfront, expecting the government to reimburse them later. However, if repayment is slow, dealers can be left out of pocket.

‘Regarding incentives, the issue of Italy’s Environment and Energy Ministry (MASE) grant reimbursements is becoming even more urgent, given the significant financial exposure borne by dealers,’ stated the industry body.

Company car taxation changes?

Meanwhile, UNRAE also called for company car taxation reforms and clarified their high importance in determining Italy’s new-car market competitiveness.

‘We need urgent structural changes to reform vehicle taxation in a ‘green’ direction. This includes VAT deductibility, cost deductibility and depreciation periods,’ outlined Pietrantonio.

‘A gradual yet concrete approach should be adopted, starting immediately with the most effective lever, deductibility, to renew fleets and accelerate the adoption of zero- and ultra-low-emission vehicles.’

‘The taxation of company cars still rests on a framework designed for an outdated context that is now very different from the current one. Its structure no longer reflects either the evolution of the market or the objectives of the electric transition. Updating it today is not only appropriate, but it is necessary,’ he commented.

EV sales soar in Italy

Amid ongoing discussions around EV incentive reimbursements and greener company car taxation, current plug-in volumes in Italy are soaring.

Combining BEV and PHEV totals, this grouping enjoyed an 84.8% improvement in deliveries during April. A total of 27,142 new EVs were registered, translating to a 17.5% market share, up 6.9 percentage points (pp) year on year.

BEVs saw the greater growth of the two technologies, with a 98.8% year-on-year surge in April to 13,199 units. However, its 8.5% share, while up 3.7pp, was still behind the 9% held by PHEVs. This was thanks to 13,943 deliveries, an upswing of 73.2% compared to 12 months prior.

Between January and April, EV registrations increased by 85.6% year on year to 105,286 units. This accounted for 16.5% of overall new-car volumes, up 6.8pp. However, this was still 10.5pp below the share of internal-combustion engines (ICE), which combines petrol and diesel figures.

PHEVs enjoyed a strong improvement in the cumulative figures, recording a 99.2% rise to 54,000 registrations. The powertrain’s share grew from 4.7% to 8.4%, putting it 0.4pp ahead of BEV’s 8% hold. All-electric models posted a 73.1% increase in the first four months of 2026, with 51,286 deliveries.

Healthy hybrid market

Hybrids, including full and mild powertrains, continued as the driving force behind the country’s overall new-car market improvements.

The technology posted an additional 14,802 units in April 2026 compared to one year prior. This brought its total for the month to 75,775 registrations, a 24.3% increase.

Without hybrid sales, Italy’s new-car market would have recorded growth of just 1.6%. The powertrain took a dominant 48.8% slice of total deliveries, up 5pp year on year.

Its share in the cumulative figures is even more staggering. Hybrids made up 50.8% of all registrations between January and April, up 6.3pp from the same period one year prior. This was thanks to a 25.5% growth in volumes to 325,182 deliveries.

Adding hybrids to EVs, the electrified market is seemingly unstoppable in Italy. The grouping captured 66.3% of overall registrations in April, up 11.9pp year on year. After four months of the year, the groupings’ share reached 67.3%. This was up 13.1pp from the same period one year ago.

ICE market in peril

In contrast, the ICE market faced yet more declines in April. Deliveries slumped by 18.1% last month, with 42,851 units. As EVs and electrified models make strong gains, ICE’s slice of the market thinned by 10pp to 27.6%.

Diesel had a particularly poor month, with a 22.4% year on year drop in April to 11,122 units. It represented 7.2% of overall volumes, down from 10.3%. Meanwhile, petrol suffered a 16.5% decline to 31,729 deliveries, as its share fell by 6.8pp to 20.5%.

Things were even bleaker for ICE models in the cumulative data. Volumes plummeted by 19.5% to 173,016 units, while its hold on the market loosened by 9.9pp to 27%. This put it 40.3pp behind the electrified market, and 23.8pp behind hybrids alone.

Petrol’s share slumped by 6.8pp to 20%, after an 18% fall to 127,794 units. Even so, the fuel type remained Italy’s second-most-popular powertrain. It sat 11.6pp ahead of PHEVs, petrol’s closest competitor.

Diesel had an even steeper decline of 23.3%, with 45,222 registrations. Consequently, its share dropped from 10.1% to 7.1%. This puts it 1.3pp and 0.9pp behind PHEVs and BEVs, respectively.

Fiat leads the way

Fiat was the best-selling brand in Italy’s new-car market during April. The carmaker saw volumes soar by 31% year on year to 16,009 units in its domestic market. This ensured a 10.3% share. The Fiat Panda was also the country’s best-selling new car in the month, with 8,571 registrations. Meanwhile, the Grande Panda posted 3,685 units.

However, other Stellantis brands did not experience the same positivity. Peugeot endured a 7.5% delivery slump on its way to fourth place in the standings. The Peugeot 208 still made the top 10 best-sellers list, with 3,558 registrations.

Jeep faced a 4.3% decline in ninth, even with the second-best-selling model in April. This was the Jeep Avenger, which recorded 4,221 units. Meanwhile, Citroen suffered a 4.8% fall in 10^th, with the C3 accounting for 3,503 units alone.

The second-best-selling brand in April was Toyota, with 11,369 registrations. This translated to a 7.3% year on year growth, matching its 7.3% market share. Its most popular model in the month was the Aygo X, which contributed 3,372 units to Toyota’s total.

Leapmotor’s four-digit delivery surge

Just 109 units behind Toyota was Volkswagen (VW) with a 1% improvement last month. The marque’s most popular model was the T-Roc, with 3,074 units.

Yet the carmaker’s rise paled in comparison to Audi’s delivery surge. Volumes grew by 15.5% at the fellow VW Group brand, as it took eighth in the best-sellers table. However, this was still not enough to beat BMW. Its German rival sat just 25 units ahead in seventh with a 4.5% registrations rise.

Dacia and Renault also placed close together, with only 318 units separating the two carmakers in April. The former finished fifth after a 2.3% delivery drop, despite the Sandero taking fourth in the best-selling models list with 4,040 deliveries. Renault enjoyed a 1.8% year-on-year improvement in sixth.

However, the biggest growth in Italy’s new-car market was seen outside the top 10 best-selling brands. Leapmotor saw volumes soar by 1,300.6% year on year, with its total translating to a 2.9% market share. Out of its 4,496 deliveries in April, 4,090 units came solely from the T03, which placed third in the best-selling models list.

Omoda enjoyed a similar surge of 977.4%, giving it a 2.5% slice of the overall market. EMC, while only holding a 0.2% share, recorded a 562.7% uptick in deliveries.

Then came Jaecoo, with 195.4% year-on-year growth and a 1.1% hold. Finally, BYD made up 2.9% of the market, just 76 units ahead of Leapmotor, after a 171.7% rise in registrations.

Spain’s consistent results continue with latest new-car registrations rise

Spain saw another month of new-car registrations growth in April. However, could there be challenges ahead, despite impressive electric vehicle (EV) figures? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the market.

Spain’s new-car market continued its impressive run into April, with another month of year-on-year improvement.

The latest numbers from industry association ANFAC show that 106,862 units were registered in April 2026. This was an increase of 8.5%, based on Autovista24 calculations of available data.

This meant that after four months of the year, Spain’s new-car market recorded 407,338 registrations. This marked an improvement of 7.8% compared to the same period of 2025. The growth has led to an additional 29,449 units on the country’s roads, according to Autovista24 analysis.

The country has seen a consistent run of growth in 2026. This is more impressive considering the first months of 2025 saw slightly inflated numbers. Storms and severe flooding in the Valencia region at the end of 2024 led to a scheme to replace many vehicles. This created somewhat unnatural market growth.

Challenges ahead for Spain?

‘April continues the upward trend seen throughout 2026, and we have once again surpassed 100,000 units sold in a month that included Easter holidays,’ commented Félix García, ANFAC’s Director of Communications and Marketing.

‘Geopolitical changes have driven up the price of petrol and, above all, diesel. But this does not yet appear to be a key factor in the shift of customers towards 100% electric vehicles. What is clear, however, is that diesel is dying, given that customers are not considering it when they want to buy a passenger car,’ he continued.

However, there may be some concerns ahead for the Spanish market. Despite its strong start to the year, a slowdown may be on the cards.

Raúl Morales, communications director of Faconauto, added: ‘from our perspective, in April we detected a certain drop in dealership activity, with a smaller order book. This leads us to maintain a cautious position regarding market trends in the coming months.’

BEVs build momentum

The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market saw a leap of 42.3%, according to Autovista24 calculations of data provided by Faconauto. This was thanks to 9,723 registrations in the month.

Despite the improvement, the powertrain was still unable to reach a double-digit monthly market share. It accounted for 9.1% of total sales, a jump of 2.2 percentage points from the same period last year.

Yet with the new Auto Plan+, including its incentives scheme, which is yet to be published, the BEV market is flourishing. Retroactive payments are expected back to 1 January, and this may be influencing purchasing decisions.

‘This progress is significant, but it does not guarantee its continuation, and adoption must continue to be encouraged. To maintain this pace and move closer to our established objectives, it is essential to strengthen consumer support mechanisms. We expect the Auto+ plan to be published soon, with an agile and accessible design that will build buyer confidence,’ commented José López-Tafall, Director General of ANFAC.

‘Consolidating domestic demand is not only key from an environmental perspective, but also to ensure Spain’s role as an industrial hub for new mobility.’

In the first four months of 2026, BEV deliveries increased by 41.8%, with 36,949 units registered, based on Autovista24 analysis. This was good enough for a 9.1% market share, a jump of 2.2pp year on year.

PHEVs lead the EV market

While BEVs continue to improve, in Spain’s EV market, it is plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that continue to be the most popular choice amongst buyers.

In April, the powertrain saw 13,035 registrations, a year-on-year increase of 42.9%, according to Autovista24 analysis. This was an improvement of 3,913 units compared to April 2025. The result gave PHEVs a 12.2% market share, up 2.9pp.

This means that after four months of the year, 48,775 new PHEVs have been delivered in Spain, a rise of 64.6%. The powertrain made up 12% of all registrations in the period, a rise of 4.2pp.

Combining both BEVs and PHEVs, the EV market grew by 42.6% in April, with 22,758 deliveries. Their market share of 21.3% was up by 5.1pp. It was also just 6.4pp away from that of internal-combustion engine (ICE) models, a gap that has seen small fluctuations throughout the year.

After four months, EVs held 21% of overall deliveries, a rise of 6.3pp year on year. With 85,724 registrations, based on Autovista24 calculations, volumes increased by 53.9%.

Hybrids dominant in Spain

While EVs continue to improve in Spain, the dominant powertrain is the hybrid. Made up of both full and mild-hybrid technologies, it saw year-on-year registrations growth of 23.3% in April. With 50,237 units, hybrids held 47% of the market, a rise of 5.7pp year on year.

The powertrain has firmly established itself as the most popular in Spain, and led petrol by 23pp in the month.

While the technology dominates, it did experience a slow start to the year. However, both March and April saw increases over 20%. This upward trend will help the overall Spanish market should it continue. After four months of 2026, hybrids saw growth of 19.7%, with 194,213 units delivered. The powertrain took a 47.7% share of the market.

Combining hybrids with EVs, the electrified sector saw a 28.8% rise in April, according to Autovista24 analysis. With 72,995 units, it led the market with 68.3% of the overall share. Between January and April, electrified registrations improved by 28.4%, to 279,937 units. This provided a 68.7% hold of the country’s overall volume in the period.

ICE making up the numbers

Once again, both petrol and diesel registrations saw large declines in April. The ICE sector is no longer driving the Spanish market, but is merely contributing to it. The month once again reinforced the strength of the electrified market, which was able to negate the steep losses incurred by the fossil-fuel technologies.

Petrol ended the month with a 19.9% decline in volumes, to 25,618 units. This was only good enough for a 24% market share, a fall of 8.5pp.

After four months, the fuel type saw an 18.6% decline, with 97,505 units registered. At the same point in 2025, petrol had already achieved almost 120,000 deliveries. Its 23.9% share was 7.8pp down year on year.

Meanwhile, diesel saw just 3,973 units delivered in the month, a 28.5% fall compared to April 2025. With just 3.7% of the market, its share fell 1.9pp. Between January and April, the powertrain saw 15,907 registrations, a 27.1% decrease. This left it with a 3.9% share, falling by 1.9pp.

Combined, the ICE market suffered a drop of 21.2% in April, as 29,591 cars made it to Spanish roads. The group’s 27.7% share was a drop of 10.4pp. Four months into the year, ICE suffered a 19.9% decline, as 113,412 units were delivered. Their 27.8% hold of the overall total was down 9.7pp, and was 40.9pp behind the electrified market.

Toyota proves popular in Spain

According to data from Ganvam, Toyota was the leading brand in Spain during April. With 8,519 units delivered, volumes increased by 2.8%. The Japanese marque was helped by its Corolla model, which saw 2,511 registrations, while the Yaris Cross saw 1,725 units make their way to the country’s roads.

Next came Spain’s domestic brand, SEAT. With 6,895 registrations, it saw a 23.4% jump in volumes year on year. This was helped by the SEAT Ibiza taking second in the monthly models table, with 2,729 units. The Arona also contributed 2,251 deliveries to this total.

The third best-selling brand in Spain went to Volkswagen (VW). With 6,703 units, it saw an 8.3% increase compared to the same point in 2025. However, only the VW T-Roc made the country’s top 10 models list, with 1,715 units.

Fourth went to Peugeot, with 6,440 registrations in the month, and increase of 18.3%. Both the 2008 and 208 proved popular in the country, with 2,594 and 2,390 deliveries respectively.

Renault took fifth spot, despite volumes declining 10.5% year on year. With 6,108 units delivered, it failed to place a single model in the top 10, according to Faconauto data.

Are private buyers driving Germany’s new-car market forward?

With another month of new-car registrations growth in Germany, one force appears to be driving the market forward. But how are powertrains and brands performing in the country? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, explores the figures.

Deliveries of new cars in Germany rose by 2.7% year on year in April, reaching 249,163 units. According to KBA data, private buyers helped drive this growth. Registrations in this sector climbed by 8.2% to 88,182 units.

However, private buyers accounted for 35.4% of the market last month, compared to the commercial sector’s dominant 64.6% share. This meant that the latter’s 0.2% decline had a bigger impact on the overall market’s performance.

Varying results were also seen across different passenger car segments in April. SUVs, the most popular body type, saw 13.5% increase in registrations. The compact class was the second-best-selling sector, despite a 12.9% decline. Then came small cars, which enjoyed a 12.1% improvement.

Between January and April, the entire new-car market grew by 4.5% to 948,567 units. Germany has experienced only one monthly decline in 2026, and only two drops in the last 12 months. So, despite current headwinds affecting the new-car market, demand has remained resilient.

Broken down, both the private and commercial sectors saw a 5.3% increase after the first four months of 2026. The former accounted for a third of the overall volume.

Growing private BEV market

Private demand has also increased in the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market. This has been influenced by many factors, including a growing range of model choices for buyers. Rising fuel prices have also had a noticeable impact on demand, according to the ZDK.

‘Private customers are now relying on BEVs to the same extent as fleet customers have done in the past. Drivers appreciate the increasing product range on the one hand, and the near cost parity in the entry-level segments on the other,’ explained VDIK president Imelda Labbé.

‘Affordability is decisive for the acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs). This also applies to operating costs, where we see a cost advantage for EVs at present,’ she stated.

Meanwhile, private buyers are still awaiting the activation of the country’s new EV incentives. The scheme was announced at the start of the year, with retroactive applications eligible back to 1 January. While users will be able to apply for support online, the portal will not open until May.

Yet industry experts believe that the gap between the programme’s announcement and activation has not hindered demand.

‘If we had normal market conditions, then the demand for EVs would probably not be as strong as it is currently. The fact that the purchase premium is not yet officially on the market does not even have a negative effect. Many customers plan for the bonus and expect to get this financing,’ said ZDK president Thomas Peckruhn.

‘It is now crucial that the framework conditions develop reliably. Then, the market will continue to support the ramp-up under its own steam,’ he highlighted.

Bigger slice for BEVs

As more private buyers opt for BEVs, the technology’s slice of the new-car market continues to improve. It took a 25.8% share in April, up from 18.8% at the same time last year. With 64,350 deliveries, the powertrain saw a surge of 41.3% year on year.

BEVs were the country’s second most popular powertrain in the month, 4.4 percentage points (pp) ahead of petrol in third. The technology was just 2.4pp behind the market share of hybrids, made up of full and mild versions.

It also marked one of the largest shares for BEVs, alongside August 2023 and December 2022. However, these months were influenced by a pull-forward effect before subsidies were ended or reduced.

With an increasing share, BEV performance is becoming more important to wider new-car market growth. Excluding the powertrain from last month’s figures results in a 6.3% year-on-year decline.

BEVs recorded the same 41.3% year-on-year improvement between January and April, equating to 223,980 units. All-electric models made up 23.6% of total deliveries in the first four months of the year, up 6.1pp compared to the same period in 2025.

PHEV market slowing?

On the other hand, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) demand appeared to be slowing. Deliveries increased by 13.3% in April to 27,546 units. This followed a similar 13% year-on-year uptick in March.

However, both improvements were lower than any monthly growth recorded in 2025. The technology is struggling when compared with its strong performances from last year.

Yet as other powertrains see either smaller growth or overall decline, PHEVs’ market share continues to steadily increase. It grew by 1.1pp to 11.1% in April, while in the cumulative figures, it rose by 1.2pp to 10.9%. This was due to a 17.6% improvement in registrations to 103,660 units.

Combining BEV and PHEV figures, EV deliveries increased by 31.6% in April to 91,896 units. This translated to a 36.9% share, up 8.1pp year on year. It also marked the grouping’s highest share since August 2023. Between January and April, the EV share reached 34.5% as volumes grew by 32.9% to 327,640 deliveries.

Petrol market in peril

As EV growth continued in April, so did the contrasting decline of internal-combustion engine (ICE) deliveries. The powertrain group, which includes petrol and diesel, saw a 17.8% year on year drop to 85,857 registrations. Its grip on the market consequently loosened from 43% to 34.5%, 2.4pp below EVs.

Petrol had the poorer performance last month, suffering a 20% slump to 53,420 units. Its share fell from 27.5% to 21.4%. Meanwhile, diesel recorded a 13.8% delivery decline to 32,437 units and a 2.5pp drop in share to 13%.

After four months of 2026, ICE volumes dropped by 14.1% to 341,226 registrations. The grouping captured 36% of the overall market, down 7.8pp year on year. While it remained ahead of EVs by 1.5pp, this could soon change if current performances continue.

Broken down, petrol suffered the bigger decline of 17.2% between January and April, to 212,478 units. With its 22.4% share, the fuel type sat 6.8pp below hybrids. In comparison, the deficit stood at 0.3pp during the same period of 2025.

Diesel endured a shallower 8.4% drop between January and April to 128,748 deliveries, as its share fell by 1.9pp to 13.6%.

Hybrid’s stability stays dominant

Between soaring EV sales and slumping ICE demand, hybrid volumes have remained comparatively stable in 2026. April saw a 4.2% increase to 70,207 units, giving it a 0.4pp rise in share to 28.2%. However, despite leading the market, this was its lowest hold of 2026 so far, as BEVs inched ever closer.

Hybrid registrations rose by 6.6% in the first four months of the year, reaching 276,773 units. The technology represented 29.2% of overall volumes, up from 28.6%.

Adding hybrids to the EV total, the electrified market continued to tighten its grip on new-car sales. The grouping made up 65.1% of deliveries in April, thanks to a 18.1% rise in volumes. In the year-to-date, electrified volumes increased by 19.4%, as the grouping accounted for 63.7% of the market total.

Audi’s strong April

Like powertrains, breaking down the new-car market by brands showed contrasting results within the top 10 best sellers.

In fifth, Audi saw a strong year-on-year gain of 19%. Fellow Volkswagen (VW) Group brand Škoda posted a 12.2% improvement in fourth.

Conversely, SEAT suffered a 13.9% slump in seventh, ahead of Hyundai, which recorded a 6.1% year on year gain. VW, Germany’s most popular brand, endured a 6.7% delivery decline.

Ford recorded an 18.5% decline in ninth, followed by a 9.9% drop for Fiat, which rounded out the top 10. Elsewhere in the Stellantis stable, Opel posted a 6.6% delivery increase in sixth.

Mercedes-Benz enjoyed a year-on-year improvement of 4.9% as it sat second, while new BMW volumes fell by 0.5% in third.

Yet the fastest-growing brands in April all came from outside the top 10 best-sellers list. With 4,705 units, BYD posted a 200.4% year-on-year improvement to 4,705 registrations. This was bested by Tesla’s 255.8% surge, despite a lower delivery total of 3,149 units. Meanwhile, Leapmotor saw an even greater improvement of 331.5% to 1,355 deliveries.

The Automotive Update: What were Europe’s fastest-selling used cars in April?

Which models were the fastest-selling in key European used-car markets? What happened with other demand indicators for used cars? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry discusses all this and more in the Automotive update podcast.

This episode takes a deep dive into key European used-car markets, including the performance of residual values (RVs). Also, how is Australia adapting its electric vehicle (EV) incentives for the coming years?

Fastest-selling used cars

The latest Autovista24 Monthly Market Update revealed that trade RVs remained broadly stable across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. While there was an overall trend of decline compared with March, value drops were mostly marginal.

The data presented in the latest report also revealed which models were the fastest selling in each market. This is based on the average days to sell, between a car entering the market and finding a new owner.

Both the Tesla Model Y and Cupra Formentor topped local used-cars charts in two of the seven analysed markets. The US model moved quickly in Austria and Germany, while the Spanish brand topped the French and UK tables.

The Dacia Sandero placed in the top five of four markets, topping the chart in Spain. In Italy, the Toyota Yaris Cross led the fastest-selling cars table. The Japanese model also placed in the top five for Austria and Spain. The SEAT Leon topped the market in Switzerland, the only market where it appeared in the top five.

Other notable performances included the Volkswagen Polo, which appeared in the tables of Austria, France and the UK. Toyota continued to prove popular, with its Corolla appearing as one of the fastest sellers in France and Spain. The Toyota Yaris also made the top five in France and Italy.

Can electric cars benefit from rising prices?

ACEA has argued that energy market volatility is strengthening the case for accelerating away from fossil fuels in road transport.

‘A technology-neutral decarbonisation strategy that embraces electrification and includes renewable fuels is essential. It is key to safeguarding Europe’s resilience, protecting consumers from price and supply shocks, and delivering a successful transition to climate‑neutral mobility,’ commented Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General.

The industry body has indicated a need for policy action in two areas. This includes making electricity the most affordable source of energy. Achieving this requires lowering the cost of energy used to charge EVs. This can help drive consumers and businesses into zero-emission transport.

ACEA also suggested that renewable fuels should be incentivised, based on their carbon content. Short-term measures to lower fuel prices do not currently distinguish between fuels based on their makeup.

Australia extends EV incentives

The Australian government has extended its EV incentive programme. The Electric Car Discount (ECD) was first introduced in 2022 and will be rolled out in three phases. The scheme offers a tax rebate when employees use salary sacrifice to cover the leasing costs of an EV.

Government analysis revealed the programme led to an estimated 64,000 additional battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales between 2022 and 2025.

Phase one of the extension will run until the end of March 2027. This will extend exemptions from the country’s Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) on the portion of salary used to pay leasing instalments.

The second phase will run from 1 April 2027 to 1 April 2029. During this time, the FBT exemption will only apply to EVs with a purchase price of up to AUS $75,000 (€46,252). This measure aims to encourage manufacturers to offer more affordable BEVs in the Australian market.

EVs costing more than AUS $75,000, but below the luxury car tax threshold, will qualify for a 25% discount on payable FBT. The third phase starts on 1 April 2029, when all EVs below the luxury car tax threshold will qualify for a 25% discount on payable FBT.

What is the latest from the French new-car market?

The French new-car market started 2026 with two months of decline, followed by a comeback in March. What happened to registration figures in April, and why? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores the market.

France saw 138,339 new cars registered last month, according to PFA and AAA Data. This meant the market dipped by 0.3% compared with April 2025. This marginal result brought the year-to-date volume to 539,895 units, down 1.6% year on year.

A consistent trend in the April and cumulative figures is the positive performance of one powertrain. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded double-digit increases across both time spans, while other technologies struggled.

The all-electric powertrain has consistently been the second-most popular in the country after hybrids, accounting for full and mild versions. But what has driven this popularity, and how has it affected different models?

French BEV boom?

BEVs accounted for 26.2% of new-car deliveries in France last month, Autovista24 analysis of PFA and AAA Data figures reveals. The powertrain’s share increased by 7.8 percentage points (pp), an unrivalled gain. It was also the only major powertrain to record growth, as registrations climbed 41.8% year on year to 36,219 units.

This has been a consistent pattern across the first four months of 2026, reflected in the year-to-date results. BEV registrations increased by 48.2% year on year to 148,302 units, capturing 27.5% of the market, up 9.3pp.

Many factors have contributed to the increasing popularity of BEVs. Rising fuel prices have pushed some buyers away from internal-combustion engines (ICE) towards electrified powertrains.

An increasing number of more affordable all-electric models has also bolstered uptake. EV Volumes revealed the market is seeing high demand for locally-made models such as the Renault 5 and the Renault Scenic E-Tech.

This ties into the income-dependent ‘coup de pouce’ incentive scheme. The programme grants funds based on a BEV’s environmental score, with production location playing an important part in this grading. In October last year, a supplementary premium was added to the scheme for models made in the EU.

However, this incentive cannot be accessed alongside one of the most significant motivators in France: the social leasing programme. The scheme’s second round met its target of 50,000 allocations in January this year. However, it continues to influence registrations as BEV deliveries are fulfilled.

The first round saw all allocations accounted for in roughly six weeks. The second ran from the end of September 2025 to January 2026. With the third round expected in July, how quickly the latest funds are allocated will help signpost demand.

Electrified French market

Other electrified powertrains did not perform as well as BEVs in April. Autovista24’s analysis of PFA and AAA Data’s figures reveals plug-in hybrid (PHEV) deliveries fell by 13.1% in the month. These 8,333 units equated to a 6% market share, down 0.9pp.

This was the powertrain’s most dramatic decline so far in 2026, pushing the year-to-date results down further. With 27,917 deliveries, PHEV registrations fell by 4.3% year on year. This took its market share to 5.2%, down 0.1pp.

Hybrids’ decline was not as severe. In April, the powertrain saw registrations fall by 4.6% year on year to 60,163 units. This meant the technology was still the country’s most popular, accounting for 43.5% of all deliveries, down 2pp.

This drop was softened by a positive performance in March, as hybrids managed 1.1% growth in the year to date. Powering 250,064 new cars, it took a market share of 46.3%, up 1.2pp year on year.

Combining BEVs, PHEVs and hybrids, the electrified category accounted for 75.7% of the French new-car market in April. This 4.9pp increase reflected a 6.6% increase in registrations, with 104,715 electrified new cars hitting the roads.

Thanks to the positive performance of BEVs, the year-to-date result was even better. With 426,283 registrations, deliveries of the powertrain grouping grew by 13.2%, capturing 79% of the market, up 10.4pp.

All over for ICE?

This gain for electrified vehicles was proportionately reflected in the ICE results in the year to date. Combined registrations of pure petrol and diesel models accounted for 17.5% of the new-car market, down 10.1pp.

Between January and April, ICE deliveries fell by 37.8% to 94,304 units. This followed a 27.6% decline in April to 25,798 registrations as the grouping’s market share slid by 7.1pp to 18.6%.

While diesel saw the larger decline in percentage terms during April, petrol recorded a greater volume loss. Deliveries of the former fell by 42.8% to 3,835 units, taking a 2.8% market share, down 2pp. On the other hand, petrol suffered a 24.1% drop to 21,963 units. With 6,969 fewer models taking to the road, the fuel type’s share shrank by 5pp to 15.9%.

In the year to date, petrol registrations sank even lower, down 36.6% to 80,403 units. This equated to 14.9% of the market, down 8.2pp. Meanwhile, diesel recorded a fall of 44% to 13,901 models, accounting for 2.6% of all deliveries, down 1.9pp.

Two questions now stand out. Will the third social leasing round prove as popular as the first, given higher petrol and diesel fuel prices? If so, will this change in consumer sentiment become concrete? The answer to the first question will be revealed in a few short months and will set the stage for the second.

UK registrations rise rapidly as car parc age increases

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) reached a new milestone in the UK during April. But as petrol rebounded and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) rose, can the technology make its mark in an ageing car parc? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the data.

There were 149,247 registrations in April, according to the latest data from the SMMT. This was up by 24% compared with the same period last year. The result was buoyed by a rise in petrol deliveries, while electrified models continued their positive performance.

However, the increase in figures came after a low result in April 2025. A change in the UK’s vehicle excise duty (VED) saw many registrations pulled forward earlier. Therefore, an accurate year-on-year comparison is more difficult this month.

The SMMT has also revised its forecast for the year. Registrations are now expected to reach 2.09 million units, equating to a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. This was up from January’s 2.05-million-unit outlook. Further growth is expected in 2027, with the market forecast to reach 2.12 million units.

ICE inspires UK market

The UK’s internal-combustion engine (ICE) market has been struggling for some time. April did represent a stronger performance, but it was not enough to prevent it from slipping behind electrified powertrains.

Combined petrol and diesel deliveries saw growth of 7.3% in the month, driven by petrol. While diesel saw yet another decline, its volumes remained broadly stable year on year.

In contrast to other big European markets, the SMMT reports its mild-hybrid (MHEV) powertrain figures differently. Rather than mixing them in with full hybrids (HEVs), they are included with their respective petrol and diesel counterparts. This can make the UK figures appear distorted compared with other market trends.

Even with the MHEV numbers included, ICE registrations have seen steady decreases. However, 2026 seems to be altering this trend.

In April, petrol volumes increased by 8.2% to 63,541 units. The result equated to a 42.6% market share. However, with other powertrains increasing, this was down by 6.2 percentage points (pp). This was the second time in 2026 that petrol deliveries rose, as it held on to the leading market share.

Across the first four months of 2026, a total of 340,230 petrol models have been registered. This marked a decline of just 1.5% year on year. While the fuel type still leads the market by volume, its 44.5% share was down 4.8pp.

Diesel drops but remains stable

Diesel deliveries fell 1% in April. However, the 6,314-unit delivery total was only down by 67 units year on year. However, its 4.2% market share was down by 1.1pp.

Between January and April, diesel saw a decline of 8.4% to 36,827 registrations. Meanwhile, its 4.8% share of the market total was down 0.9pp.

Despite petrol’s positive performance and diesel remaining relatively stable, ICE was unable to remain the dominant powertrain grouping. Its 46.8% share in April was down 7.3pp. In the first four months of the year, a 2.2% volume decrease saw its share slip 5.7pp, to 49.3%.

Can EVs overcome concerns?

The first quarter of the year saw slightly slower BEV registrations. This was likely due to the pull-forward effect from last year. Compared to a slightly reduced performance in April 2025, deliveries increased 59.1% year on year. In total, 39,084 units left showrooms in April, giving the technology a 26.2% market share, up 5.8pp.

BEVs became subject to vehicle excise duty (VED) from April 2025. Buyers rushed to register their vehicles before then, creating a pull-forward effect. This means the market has been playing catch up in 2026.

Across the first four months of 2026, all-electric deliveries increased by 22.1%, to 176,698 units. So, BEVs held 23.1% of the UK new-car market, below the 33% zero-emission vehicle mandate target due by the year.

The SMMT’s 2026 BEV share forecast has been downgraded after the weaker first quarter. The powertrain is expected to account for 26.8% of the market, down from 28.5% estimated in January.

In 2027, BEVs are forecast to reach a 32% market share, 6pp below the mandated target of 38%. While BEVs celebrated two million cumulative registrations, the forecast distance from the 2026 and 2027 targets is a concern.

‘Other major international markets are revising their transition plans to reflect geopolitical and market realities. The UK similarly needs an urgent review of the transition to avoid being put in an uncompetitive position, undermining consumer choice, investment and growth,’ the SMMT highlighted.

PHEVs prove popular in the UK

PHEVs continued their strong performance with a 46.4% registration increase in April. In total, 20,597 new units made it to UK roads. This marked the first time since August 2025 that the powertrain recorded a higher volume than HEVs.

The PHEV sector has been growing in strength this year. In all, the technology commanded 13.8% of April’s overall figures, up 2.1pp. Four months into the year, PHEVs saw growth of 46.5%, the best-performing powertrain in terms of volume increase. With 99,263 units, it held 13% of the market, up 3.3pp.

This result meant that the electric vehicle (EV) market saw a 54.5% year-on-year rise in April, taking a 40% market share. This was a jump of 7.9pp compared to the same point last year. Between January and April, EV registrations increased by 29.9%, with a 36.1% market share, up 5.8pp.

HEV slowdown continues

In total, 19,711 HEVs were registered last month, an 18.8% improvement. This allowed a 13.2% market share, but with better BEV and PHEV performances, this was 0.6pp lower than April 2025.

The HEV market has been a slow burner so far in 2026, with cumulative figures up 8.3% year on year. As 111,083 units joined the roads, the technology held a 14.5% share of the UK total, down 0.1pp.

Combining HEVs with EVs, the electrified market was ahead of ICE for the second successive month. With 79,392 registrations, the grouping was up 43.8%, taking a 53.2% hold in April. This also helped the technology jump ahead after four months of the year. Its 387,044 deliveries were up by 22.8%. This provided a slim lead with a 50.7% share, following a dead split across the first quarter.

With ICE deliveries experiencing a rollercoaster 2026, it is not clear how quickly electrified registrations could pull ahead. But as the market experiences more growth, April may well be the tipping point for ICE.

UK car parc ages again

The SMMT recently released its overview of the UK car parc, providing insight into the roads in 2025. In total, 36,676,185 cars were in use in the UK last year, a rise of 1.4%.

Petrol cars remained the most dominant, with a 57.7% share of the market. This was down by 0.5pp compared with 2024, according to Autovista24 analysis. Meanwhile, diesel still held 30.1% of the UK total parc, a drop of 2pp year on year.

Electrified models continued to see increases, although they made up a small percentage of overall cars in use. BEVs took a 4.9% share, up by 1.2pp year on year. HEVs took 4.7% of the parc, a rise of 0.7pp, while PHEVs took a 2.6% share, up by 0.6pp.

The UK’s car parc is also getting progressively older, as drivers hold on to their vehicles for longer. The average age for a passenger car in the country rose to 9.7 years in 2025.

This is thanks in part to an increase in the number of cars that are over 12 years old. Last year, 33.1% of the parc made this threshold, a rise of 1.4pp year on year.

The number of 3-6-year-old cars reached 13%, a decline of 2pp, while those aged 7-9 years made up 18.6% of the parc, a drop of 1.2pp. Cars between 10-12 years made up 19.3%, a rise of 0.8pp.

Monthly Market Update: Used car residual values stable in April

Residual values (RVs) remained broadly stable across European used-car markets in April. But what did other metrics reveal in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the market data.

Passenger car values in key European markets remained relatively stable in April. While there was an overall trend of decline compared with March, value drops were mostly marginal.

The UK saw the largest decline in absolute RVs, down 2.3% month on month to £15,460 (€17,924). With the exception of Austria’s 1.8% fall to €22,623, nearly all other observed markets recorded drops under 1%. Spain was even able to record a 0.9% increase in absolute RVs compared with March.

RVs presented as a percentage of retained list price (%RV) after 36 months and 60,000km also remained stable in April. Compared with March, the UK once again saw the largest drop, from 48.4% to 47.4%.

Declines in %RVs were more substantial compared with April 2025. Italy recorded the largest decline, down 3.8 percentage points (pp) to 44.6%. Meanwhile, all markets saw list prices and active-market volume indices (AMVI) climb year on year, putting pressure on %RVs.

Austria sees more momentum

Austria’s sales‑volume index (SVI) for two‑to‑four‑year‑old passenger cars continued its upward trend in April. The metric increased by 11.7% compared with March, while demand was 12.2% higher year on year.

‘This underlined a clear improvement compared to early 2025 and confirms that market momentum has only strengthened,’ said Robert Madas, regional head of valuations.

Supply conditions eased slightly. The AMVI fell by 1% month on month. Nevertheless, stock levels remained 1.2% higher than a year earlier. This indicates that supply remains broadly balanced and above last year’s level despite the marginal monthly contraction.

Turnover speed improved again in April. The average time needed to sell a used car declined to 66.5 days, a month-on-month improvement of two days. Compared with April 2025, however, turnaround times were 1.7 days longer.

Full hybrids (HEVs) took the lead in turnover speed at 53.1 days, marking a significant improvement compared to March. The Toyota Yaris was a major motivating factor behind this trend. Then came diesel models, needing 63 days to sell on average.

This was followed by battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) at 67.7 days, after a significant improvement compared with March. Next were petrol cars, taking an average of 68.5 days to sell, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 73.1 days.

Softer pricing dynamics

Pricing dynamics softened in April. The average absolute trade RV of 36‑month‑old cars at 60,000km declined to €22,623. This was down 1.8% month on month but was still 5.4% higher than in April 2025.

Meanwhile, %RVs fell to 46.9% in Austria. This was down 0.4pp on March and 0.7pp on April last year, highlighting renewed pressure on value retention. List prices also edged lower, averaging €48,278 in April. This represented a 0.9% month‑on‑month decline, though prices remained 7.1% higher than a year earlier.

HEVs retained the highest %RV at 51.1%, followed by petrol cars at 49.6%. Then came diesel models with 46.9% and PHEVs with 44.2%. BEVs held the lowest %RV once again, at 38.5%.

Austria’s RV outlook remains broadly unchanged. %RVs are forecast to decline gradually over the coming years as supply normalises further. In December 2026, a 0.5% year-on-year decline is forecast. A 0.7% decrease in 2027 is expected to follow.

Value stability in France

RVs were stable in France during April, maintaining the levels recorded at the end of 2025. A slightly more expensive basket contributed to lower trade %RVs. The average number of days needed to sell a 24-to-48-month-old car was stable overall as well.

Values of petrol-powered models followed the general market trend. The fuel type has seen mostly stable RVs, even as other powertrains experienced larger decreases. Additionally, petrol cars are still widely offered by many manufacturers while diesel cars are becoming rarer.

‘After seeing values fall marginally in previous months, diesel-powered cars saw RVs pick up slightly in April. The fuel type is still in demand on the French used-car market, even as new sales fall,’ commented Ludovic Percier, senior RV analyst for France.

HEVs saw absolute trade RVs remain stable in April. More manufacturers are now featuring the technology in their model lineups. There are increased numbers of these powertrains in the used-car market, with most new entrants coming from mainstream brands.

Toyota has consistently led the French used HEV market, with model reliability boosting RVs. Overall, used HEVs are still in demand in France, but carmakers cannot risk increasing their price premiums. This would jeopardise the value retention of these models.

Supply and demand imbalance

PHEV values kept falling in April as supply and demand on the used-car market remained imbalanced. Previously, new PHEVs with high list prices were sold to fleets on the back of fiscal advantages. This continues to negatively impact the value retention of these used models as they come back to market. Vehicles offering an electric-only range of below 60km have been most affected.

PHEVs were the second slowest-selling powertrain in April, taking 69.1 days on average. This increased compared to March, as more models came back from leasing with smaller electric ranges than newer models.

BEV values were stable. The technology is evolving quickly, with driving ranges extending compared to models from three years ago.

On average, BEVs spent 80.3 days in stock during April, compared with the market average of 66.6. The powertrain retained 35.6% of its new car list price after 36 months and 60,000km. This was compared to the overall market’s 50.2%.

France’s social leasing programme is not helping used-car sales, as buyers opt for new models instead of pre-owned ones. The upper segment will be more impacted in the future as company and fleet vehicle users benefit from fiscal advantages. These vehicles will come to the used-car market in early 2028.

Market liquidity improves in Germany

Used‑car demand in Germany continued to improve in April, building on the recovery seen in the first quarter.

The SVI increased by 9.7% compared with March. However, the demand metric remained below last year’s level, with the index 5.5% lower year on year. This indicates that underlying market activity has not yet fully returned to 2025 levels.

‘Supply conditions strengthened further,’ explained Madas. ‘The AMVI was up by 2.9% month on month. Compared to April last year, stock availability was 28.6% higher, confirming a pronounced rebuild in supply and continued market normalisation.’

Market liquidity improved again in April. The average number of days needed to sell a used car fell to 62.7 days. This was an improvement of 1.2 days month on month and 0.9 days year on year. This suggests that turnover conditions are gradually strengthening despite softer year‑on‑year demand.

Looking at powertrain performance, BEVs were again the fastest-selling technology, taking 58.4 days to leave forecourts. Then came PHEVs at 58.9 days. Diesel cars followed at 61 days, while petrol-powered cars took 66.1 days to sell. HEVs sold the slowest, at 67.3 days.

Supply expected to normalise

RVs remained under pressure. After 36 months and 60,000km, %RVs fell to 46.3%. This was down 0.2pp month on month and 1.3pp year on year. Absolute trade RVs also decreased to €21,319, down 0.9% month on month, but still 0.4% higher year on year.

Meanwhile, list prices softened slightly, averaging €46,093 in April. This represented a 0.5% month‑on‑month decline. However, prices remained 3.3% higher than a year earlier, continuing to support absolute used‑car values despite falling retention rates.

Looking ahead, gradual downward pressure on %RVs is still expected as supply normalises further. By the end of 2026, %RVs are projected to decline by 1.6% 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.

Italy sees seasonal pattern

‘Used car RVs fell in Italy during April. %RVs reached 44.6%, down 0.4pp compared with March. This reflected a seasonal pattern that was broadly in line with expectations,’ highlighted Marco Pasquetti, cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

Compared with April 2025, %RVs were down by 3.8pp. This was stable on March’s Monthly Market Update, where values also dropped by 3.8pp year on year to 45%.

Average days‑to‑sell for used cars reached 55.4 days, improving by 3.4 days compared with March. However, turnover remained marginally slower than a year ago, with an increase of 1.1 days. Apart from the Dacia Sandero, four of the five fastest‑selling models came from Toyota. Each averaged around 30 days on market.

An analysis of listings across online marketplaces points to a phase of relative stabilisation. The SVI did continue to edge lower. However, the 1.5% month-on-month contraction remains limited and does not indicate a material deterioration in underlying demand.

Encouraging signals emerged from electric powertrains. For the first time since values began declining in 2024, the pace of depreciation slowed for PHEVs and BEVs.

%RVs of all-electric cars slid by 0.1pp compared with March, while PHEVs fell by just 0.2pp. This compares with a market average drop of 0.4pp. In contrast, LPG was the weakest performer, recording the sharpest decline at 0.6pp.

Spain sees EV interest

Spain’s new-car market continues to grow at a steady pace despite the ongoing global situation. Specifically, sales in March rose by 11.7% compared with March 2025, and year-to-date growth stands at 7.6%.

Electric vehicles (EVs), covering BEVs and PHEVs, powered this growth. The powertrain grouping saw registrations increase 62.2% year on year. This meant EVs accounted for roughly a fifth of the new-car market in the first quarter.

More competitive pricing and the incentives offered by the country’s Auto+ Scheme have helped spur this increasing interest in EVs. Rising fuel prices and improvements to infrastructure have also helped to shrink the barriers to demand.

This growing interest in electrification is also evident in the used-car market. Transactions of used PHEVs grew by 51.3% while BEVs saw an increase of 48.8% in the first quarter. However, EVs still only accounted for 4.2% of Spain’s used-car market in the period.

More affordable models

‘This demand is not clearly reflected in the average EV transaction price,’ explained Ana Azofra, regional head of valuations and insights. ‘The mix of used cars on offer now features a greater proportion of entry-level models. There are also more models from Chinese brands with highly competitive pricing strategies.’

PHEVs remained virtually unchanged at €28,329 for a three-year-old car at 60,000km. Meanwhile, BEVs experienced a slight drop compared with March, down to €24,379.

Petrol cars saw their RVs rise by 0.8% compared with the previous month, while diesel car values fell by 0.2%. In contrast, HEVs showed no signs of slowing down and led the way once again with a 1.2% increase in their average transaction value. Unsurprisingly, the powertrain also occupied several places in the fastest-selling models ranking.

The Dacia Sandero took first with an average turnover of 42.4 days, compared with the market average of 74.3. The Sandero was followed by the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Cupra Formentor.

Positive market trend in Switzerland

Following a recovery in February and March, used‑car demand in Switzerland continued to improve in April. The SVI rose by 3.3% month on month. Demand was 2.1% higher compared to April 2025, confirming a gradual but sustained recovery following weakness in January.

Supply conditions eased slightly. The AMVI declined by 1% compared with March. However, the index was up 4% year on year. This indicates that stock availability exceeded last year’s level despite the recent monthly dip.

%RVs continued to decline in April. The average %RV for a 36-month-old car at 60,000km dropped to 41.3%. This marked a month-on-month decline of 0.2pp and a sharper year-on-year drop of 2.4pp. This highlights persistent depreciation pressure in the Swiss used‑car market amid elevated supply and rising prices.

HEVs retained the most value of any powertrain in April at 46.2%. Then came petrol-powered cars at 42.6%, diesel-powered models at 40.9% and PHEVs at 39.2%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain, holding only 35.6% of their original list price.

Absolute trade RVs decreased slightly to CHF 26,543 (€28,940), down 0.6% month on month, but remained 2% higher year on year. List prices edged lower, averaging CHF 64,192, a 0.2% month‑on‑month decline, while remaining 7.8% higher than a year earlier.

Used-car market speeds up

‘Market liquidity improved noticeably in April,’ revealed Madas. ‘The average time needed to sell a used car dropped to 73.3 days, representing a 3.1‑day improvement month on month and a 1.2-day improvement year on year.’

HEVs sold fastest at 56.7 days, followed by BEVs at 68.3 days and by petrol cars at 71.4 days. This was followed by diesel cars at 79 days. PHEVs took the longest to leave forecourts at 88 days.

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 1.5% compared to December 2025. A further 0.5% drop is anticipated in 2027.

Demand improves in UK

The April 2026 Monthly Market Dashboard showed that demand improved in the UK’s used-car market. This was even as %RVs softened across most fuel types.

Month on month, the average %RV of a three-year-old car at 60,000km slipped by one percentage point to 47.4%. However, compared to 12 months earlier, it was 3.4pp lower.

Value retention performance weakened across most fuel types in April. BEV %RVs fell to 34.6%, down 1.7pp compared to March. PHEV values declined by 1pp to 44.5%. Petrol values eased by 1.2pp to 48.7%, and HEVs also dropped 1.2pp to 51.7%. Diesel values strengthened, rising 1pp to 58.3%.

Market-wide retail activity strengthened with the SVI indicating that transactions increased by 6.3% compared to March. The AMVI confirmed a 10.6% month-on-month increase in the volume of cars advertised on dealer forecourts.

The UK’s new-car market often sees delivery spikes in March and September, as new registration plates are released. This can affect supply into the used-car market as buyers wait for their new-plated vehicles.

‘This increased level of stock likely resulted from March’s plate-change,’ commented Jayson Whittington, regional head of valuations for the UK. ‘Nevertheless, the time it took dealers to sell a used car improved, dropping to 32.8 days on average. This marked a reduction of 5.6 days compared to March.’

Average days to sell varied notably by fuel type. Petrol and HEVs were the fastest movers, taking 31.4 and 31.7 days respectively, reflecting strong consumer demand. BEVs followed at 34.8 days, indicating steady turnover. PHEVs took longer to sell at 38 days, although they still experienced a 2.4-day improvement compared to March. Diesel vehicles took the longest amount of time to sell, averaging 40.3 days.

The Automotive Update: A deep dive into EU new-car market fortunes

What happened to passenger car and light-commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations in the EU during the first quarter of 2026? Which brands proved most popular? Tom Geggus, Autovista24 editor, reveals all in the Automotive Update podcast.

In this episode, an exploration of the latest ACEA data covering registrations of different powertrains and brands in the EU. Spanning the first quarter of 2026, Autovista24 zeroed in on volumes of new passenger cars and LCVs. Also, a look at the UK’s ageing car parc, plus an overview of which brands are seeking to set up shop in the EU.

Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music.

EU new-car market springs forward

According to ACEA, registrations of new passenger cars increased across the EU by 4% in the first quarter of 2026. Amid a strong March, electric vehicle (EV) growth was fostered by various incentives, purchase schemes, and tax benefits.

During the first quarter, combined battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations increased by 31.5% year on year.

Hybrids, including full and mild versions, remained the EU’s preferred new-car powertrain. Combined, hybrids, BEVs and PHEVs accounted for over two-thirds of the total EU new-car market between January and March.

Meanwhile, deliveries of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including petrol and diesel models, fell by 17.6% year on year.

EV adoption boosts new EU LCV growth

In the EU’s new LCV market, diesel deliveries dropped by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2026, ACEA data revealed. Despite this, with a dominant 288,484 units, diesel made up 80% of all LCV registrations up to 3.5 tonnes.

Although diesel power remains the backbone of the EU’s new-LCV market, demand for electrified models has grown. Combined deliveries of new BEVs and PHEVs increased by 42%.

Additionally, hybrid vehicle registrations rose by 42.1%. This gave EVs a 12% share of the EU’s new LCV market, and hybrids a 3.5% slice.

EU’s leading automotive brands in 2026

Volkswagen (VW) recorded the largest unit volume of any singular brand in the EU across the first quarter of 2026. It took a 10.4% share of the EU passenger car market. However, this was down from 11.2% compared to the same point last year.

Skoda claimed the second largest market share at 6.8%, up from 6% in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, Fiat gained a 0.8 percentage point (pp) increase in market share, to 3.5%.

BYD saw a significant 1.1pp increase in market share to 1.8%. It also recorded the largest growth in registrations in the first quarter, up 169.7% year on year.

Notably, around 120,000 first-quarter registrations were not tied to a specific brand. This likely reflects registrations from newer entrants, such as Xpeng, Omoda, and Jaecoo. These marques have made a strong showing in the EU recently. Overall, this group grew sales by 65.3% year-on-year, raising its market share from 2.7% to 4.3%.

Latest UK car parc make up

Vehicle volumes on the UK’s roads reached a record 42.5 million units last year, according to the SMMT. This marked a 1.4% increase, compared with 2024. There were nearly 36.7 million passenger cars, up by 1.4%, a fourth consecutive year of growth.

Fleet renewal continues to push electrification, with roughly one in 22 vehicles emitting zero emissions. In another new record, almost 1.8 million BEV passenger cars were in use, up 34.7% year on year.

UK drivers are holding on to their cars for longer amid cost-of-living pressures. The average age of cars on the country’s roads was 9.7 years in 2025, up from 9.5 in 2024.

European home for Chinese OEMs?

Several Chinese carmakers are reportedly seeking locations to manufacture vehicles in Europe. According to Reuters, Hongqi is in talks with Stellantis to use its plants in Spain to build its models.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Dongfeng representatives have visited Stellantis plants in Spain, France, Italy and Germany. SAIC-owned MG is considering a production location in Spain, Bloomberg also revealed.

Producing models within the EU could help companies like these navigate the bloc’s import tariffs. Use of existing infrastructure could also lower manufacturing costs.

Are things looking up for the EU’s new LCV market?

The EU’s new light-commercial vehicle (LCV) market managed modest growth in the first quarter of 2026. This was boosted by an increase in electric vehicle (EV) demand, as diesel’s dominant grip weakened. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, unpacks the data.

New LCV registrations in the EU grew by 2.3% year on year in the first quarter of 2026. According to ACEA, a total of 360,648 new LCVs took to the EU’s roads. This signalled a rebound for the sector after an 8.8% delivery decline in 2025.

This growth was enabled by surging registrations of new EVs, including battery-electric and plug-in hybrid technologies. Hybrid LCVs, made up of full and mild-hybrids, also saw strong delivery improvements. This came as diesel volumes stagnated.

Shifting LCV powertrain shares

After a 12.8% slump in registrations during 2025, diesel’s first-quarter result in 2026 could be seen as positive.

Deliveries dipped by 0.8% in the first quarter of this year, with 288,484 units ensuring a dominant 80% market share. However, this was down 2.5 percentage points (pp) year on year, and a 0.7pp drop from its overall 2025 share.

Meanwhile, petrol represented 3.7% of overall volumes. This was down from the fuel type’s 5.2% hold during the first quarter of 2025. Deliveries slumped by 27.1% year on year, with 13,267 new models taking to EU roads.

Combining diesel and petrol volumes, internal-combustion engine sales continued to control the LCV market. This was despite a 2.3% decline in deliveries, plus a 4pp drop in share to 83.7% during the first quarter.

Electrified LCV momentum

EV registrations soared by 42% in the first quarter, reaching 43,441 units. Without this result, the EU’s new LCV market would have fallen by 1.4% year on year between January and March. The powertrain group accounted for 12% of total deliveries, up from 8.7% in the first quarter of 2025.

Hybrid volumes enjoyed a similar year-on-year increase of 42.1%. Yet this was based on a lower figure of 12,636 units. Hybrid-powered LCVs represented 3.5% of all LCV registrations, up 1pp compared to one year prior and just 0.2pp behind petrol.

Adding hybrid deliveries to the EV total, the electrified LCV market saw deliveries increase by 42%. This meant the grouping took a 15.5% market share, up from 11.2% during the first quarter of 2025.

Diverging national LCV results

Across the EU’s 27 member states, LCV registrations saw varying results in the first quarter. In total,18 markets enjoyed growth, including France, the biggest new LCV market between January and March. The country posted a 3.7% year-on-year increase to 88,609 units. This result contrasted with its new-car market decline.

Furthermore, 12 markets achieved double-digit improvements, such as Spain, which recorded the third-highest number of new LCV deliveries. Volumes surged by 13% year on year in the country, with 48,176 units delivered. This proved even more impressive than its new-car market growth during the same period. Poland also achieved a strong result, with a 11.2% increase to 18,113 registrations.

Many four-digit markets also saw notable performances. This included 34.7% growth in Greece. Slovenia, Ireland and Sweden enjoyed improvements of 19.4%, 17.5% and 15.4%, respectively. New LCV sales rose by 15% in Luxembourg, 13.3% in Czechia, and 12.4% in Austria.

Conversely, nine countries suffered delivery declines, such as Germany, the EU’s second biggest new LCV market. Volumes fell by 9% year on year to 57,886 units. This came as Germany’s new-car market enjoyed a strong start to the year.

Additionally, LCV registrations dropped by 1.7% to 46,883 units in Italy, the bloc’s fourth biggest LCV market. Meanwhile, its new-car market recorded growth of 9.2% in the first quarter.

Even steeper declines were recorded in Finland and the Netherlands. The two countries saw double-digit drops of 15.5% and 12.5%, respectively. Hungary also endured a 10% slump year on year.

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JD Power-GlobalData Forecast June 2026

The Automotive Update: What is forecast for Europe’s new EV market?

Financially Stressed Canadians Expect Banks to Provide Guidance but Turn to AI for Advice, JD Power Finds

Spain impresses again

Used-car EV share increases

Italy bounces back

UK sees growth streak end

Record results for BEVs

Germany experiences used-car struggles

France suffers in first quarter

ICE domination drives used-car decline

BEVs help boost German new-car market

Petrol remains popular in the UK

France flailing in April

Impressive electrification in Italy

Spain’s new-car growth span continues

Wider UK LCV growth

Ford tops April’s LCV rankings

April’s electric LCV market analysis

Electric LCV sales by brand

Used LCV market overview

Stock age increased in April

Increase in used electric LCV demand

Retail increases recorded

Uncertain market environment

Company car taxation changes?

EV sales soar in Italy

Healthy hybrid market

ICE market in peril

Fiat leads the way

Leapmotor’s four-digit delivery surge

Challenges ahead for Spain?

BEVs build momentum

PHEVs lead the EV market

Hybrids dominant in Spain

ICE making up the numbers

Toyota proves popular in Spain

Growing private BEV market

Bigger slice for BEVs

PHEV market slowing?

Petrol market in peril

Hybrid’s stability stays dominant

Audi’s strong April

Fastest-selling used cars

Can electric cars benefit from rising prices?

Australia extends EV incentives

French BEV boom?

Electrified French market

All over for ICE?

ICE inspires UK market

Diesel drops but remains stable

Can EVs overcome concerns?

PHEVs prove popular in the UK

HEV slowdown continues

UK car parc ages again

Austria sees more momentum

Softer pricing dynamics

Value stability in France

Supply and demand imbalance

Market liquidity improves in Germany

Supply expected to normalise

Italy sees seasonal pattern

Spain sees EV interest

More affordable models

Positive market trend in Switzerland

Used-car market speeds up

Demand improves in UK

EU new-car market springs forward

EV adoption boosts new EU LCV growth

EU’s leading automotive brands in 2026

Latest UK car parc make up

European home for Chinese OEMs?

Shifting LCV powertrain shares

Electrified LCV momentum

Diverging national LCV results