The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has announced the latest data, which, despite the temporary optimism in August, paint a picture of moderate stagnation. In the first eight months of 2025, the new car market in the EU recorded a slight decline of 0.1% compared to last year. This is almost no growth and a signal that consumers continue to be cautious.
A total of 7,168,848 new cars were registered, which may seem impressive, but the lack of tangible growth in the market is a fact that cannot be ignored. Even August, which is the second consecutive month of growth (+5.3%), fails to compensate for the overall sluggish performance.
Electric mobility is insufficient fast
The most worrying news comes from electric cars. Although their sales are growing (reaching a 15.8% market share), ACEA categorically states that this rate is significantly lower than necessary at the current stage of the "green" transition.
In other words, loud calls for electrification and ambitious regulations are clearly not enough to convince the mass consumer. Hybrids continue to be the "most popular choice" with a 34.7% share, indicating a preference for a compromise solution, while the combined share of gasoline and diesel cars, that is, those with only ICE, still holds the highest percentage at 37.5%. It seems that expensive electric models and a still unoptimized infrastructure are holding back the revolution so desired by EU leaders.
Even the big markets are giving mixed signals. While Germany (+39.2%) and Belgium (+14.4%) show strong growth, France recorded a 2% decline, which is a serious negative sign for one of the key markets in the EU.
Status quo in the Top 10: few surprises
The top ten is predictable, which is also not a sign of dynamism. Volkswagen continues to dominate with over 814,000 registrations, followed by Toyota and Skoda. The ranking is heavily dependent on large European concerns that have a well-established network.
Although it is good that big brands like BMW and Mercedes are in the top ten, this largely indicates a lack of change in consumer tastes and a delayed entry of new players into the market. Hyundai is last in the Top 10, which highlights the still modest presence of Asian brands outside of Toyota. Here are the top 10 best-selling brands for the first eight months of the year:
Ultimately, the eight months of 2025 show too little progress for the European automotive market. The lack of real overall growth and the too slow penetration of pure electric vehicles pose serious question marks over the continent's ambitious “green” goals.