2025 EV Sales
Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the European Union recorded meaningful growth in 2025, marking the first annual expansion in two years and underscoring a renewed shift toward electric mobility across the region.
According to industry data released in early 2026, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in the EU rose sharply by nearly 30% over 2024, reaching approximately 1.88 million units sold in 2025. This brought the share of BEVs in the total EU car market to about 17.4%, up from roughly 13.6% a year earlier.
Growth Drives Overall Market Uptick
The improved EV performance helped lift the broader European automotive market: total new car sales in the EU grew by about 1.8% last year, to roughly 10.6 million vehicles, reversing a period of stagnation. The rise in electrified vehicles including BEVs, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and conventional hybrids was a key driver of this trend.
Electric Outsells Petrol in December
A notable milestone came in December 2025, when fully electric vehicles outpaced petrol-only cars in new registrations across the EU for the first time. This landmark result reflects both strong consumer uptake of EVs and the ongoing decline in demand for traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Regional and Segment Highlights
- Germany Europe’s largest market posted one of the strongest BEV gains, with electric registrations up more than 40%.
- Spain delivered one of the highest growth rates in the bloc, with electric sales jumping sharply year-on-year.
- Hybrid powertrains remained hugely popular across the region, collectively capturing a significant portion of new car sales, even as pure petrol and diesel models continued to lose market share.
Challenges and Emerging Patterns
Despite the encouraging sales figures, overall vehicle volumes in the EU remain below pre-pandemic levels, and the pace of EV adoption varies across member states. Policy uncertainty including recent debates over future emissions regulations and differences in national incentives could influence the pace of electrification in the years ahead.
The market also saw mixed performance among manufacturers: while many traditional automakers expanded their electric offerings, some EV-specific brands saw declines in European sales volumes even as overall EV market share climbed higher.
Outlook
Industry analysts view the rebound in EV sales as a positive indicator for Europe’s long-term electrification pathway, though the pace of growth may remain dependent on supportive policy frameworks, expanding charging infrastructure, and consumer affordability.
As electrified vehicles continue gaining momentum, 2025’s performance suggests that the EU’s automotive market could be entering a new phase of EV demand balancing environmental goals with evolving consumer preferences.
Originally written by: NHK World
Link to the article: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260128_B2/
