21:09 27-01-2026

2025 European car market trends: growth, shifts, and key players

The European car market grew by 2.4% in 2025, reaching 13.27 million new cars, but the real story lies in the shifting dynamics between brands. This data comes from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

The Volkswagen Group remains the undisputed leader, with 3.57 million vehicles registered in Europe, up 5.1% from the previous year. The Volkswagen brand itself was a major contributor, alongside Skoda and Cupra, the latter showing growth of over 35%.

Stellantis holds onto second place with 1.89 million cars, but the group saw sales decline by nearly 4%. Within the conglomerate, Fiat and Opel recorded the most significant drops, while Alfa Romeo, in contrast, grew by over 30%.

The Renault Group took third position, boosting sales by 5.9%. All its brands, including Dacia and Alpine, contributed to this growth. Alpine, starting from a low base, surged by more than 140%.

Among the fastest-growing players, BMW (+5.1%), SAIC Motor (+24.9%), and particularly BYD stood out. BYD increased its European sales by 268.6%, the highest growth rate of the year, intensifying competition in the urban electric vehicle segment.

At the opposite end, Tesla faced a sharp decline. Its sales fell by 26.9%, one of the steepest drops among major brands. Toyota, Volvo, Mazda, and Jaguar Land Rover also recorded notable decreases.

The 2025 results highlight that the European market is increasingly favoring brands with broad hybrid and electric lineups, while the positions of traditional leaders no longer appear unshakable.