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European New-Car Markets Show Mixed Results as 2024 Nears
As 2024 comes to a close, Europe's new-car markets are experiencing varying performances. While some countries are growing, others are facing declines.
Spain Bucks the Trend
In a positive development, Spain's new-car market saw a 6.4% increase in November, with 83,339 registrations. This growth is significant, as Spain is on course to meet its registrations target for 2024, with a continued improvement in registrations. The hybrid sector saw growth of 30.4% in November, with 35,111 units and a 42.1% market share. This growth was led by MHEVs, which saw a remarkable 70.6% increase, accounting for 18.7% of the market.
However, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market in Spain saw a 7.7% decline in November, with a 12.8% market share. Despite this, Spain's overall EV registrations were down by only 4.3% in November, maintaining a 12.8% market share.
France and Italy Struggle
In contrast, France and Italy are struggling. France experienced its seventh consecutive month of decline in new-car registrations, with a 12.7% drop in November. To return to growth by the end of the year, France would need to record 58,968 deliveries in December, which seems unlikely given the market's current decline. The BEV market in France increased by just 0.1% in the first 11 months of the year, while the hybrid market saw a 0.3% decline. PHEVs also struggled, with a 11.5% decrease in November.
Italy's new-car market saw a 10.8% decline in November, with no powertrain recording growth. The Italian BEV market saw a 17.4% decline, while diesel and petrol registrations fell by 20.7% and 12.3% respectively. Italy's year-to-date total dipped into negative growth for the first time, with a 0.2% decline across the first 11 months of the year. The Italian hybrid market (HEVs and MHEVs) also experienced a decline, with a 0.3% drop in November.
Regulatory Changes Ahead
The French Government is finalising plans to reduce the current incentives on private purchases of BEVs. Subsidies, which currently go up to €7,000, are set to be reduced to a figure of up to €4,000. This move could impact the BEV market in France. Italy is also expected to have negative growth.
Overall European Market
Overall for Europe, the market showed a marginal decline of 0.7% in new car registrations year-to-date in 2025, though July 2025 alone saw a 7.4% year-on-year increase, suggesting some short-term recovery momentum. The battery electric vehicle market continues its strong growth with a 15.6% EU market share in 2025 YTD, up from 12.5% in 2024, reflecting the continent’s regulatory push and consumer shift toward electrification.
In summary, by the end of 2024 and into 2025:
- France faces a slight downturn in overall sales but is a leader in EV adoption.
- Italy shows a modest decline in new car sales, maintaining a significant share in Europe.
- Spain is growing faster than many peers, gaining market share.
- The electric vehicle segment is expanding rapidly across these markets, aided by stricter emissions targets and evolving consumer preference.
This mixed but evolving new-car market environment reflects broader European trends toward electrification amid economic and regulatory challenges.
[1] European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) [2] European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) [3] International Energy Agency (IEA) [4] European Commission's CO2 standards for cars and vans
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