European Auto Market Accelerates: 10% Growth in September, Hybrid Engine Leads Electrification Train

September 2025: European Auto Market Reaches 1.23 Million Units, +10.7%

According to the latest data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the European auto market is consolidating its recovery. In September 2025, new car sales in Europe (including the EU, EFTA and the UK) recorded a significant increase of 10.7%, reaching a total volume of 1,236,876 units.

This spectacular increase marks the third consecutive month of advance, signaling a stabilization of supply chains and increasing demand. However, in the first nine months of the year, the total market remained in the territory of modest growth, of 1.5%, totaling 9,928,527 registrations.

Hybrids Dominate, PHEVs Surprise, Diesel Collapses

Analysis by engine type reveals a drastic reconfiguration of European preferences, a trend supported by new EU regulations on CO2 emissions, which imposed stricter limits on car manufacturers in 2025.

Hybrid (HEV) engines were by far the most sought-after. In September, 434,947 units were sold, marking a 15.3% increase and becoming the segment with the largest market share.

The notable rise, however, comes from electric cars (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), which are essential for achieving emissions targets.

• Electric cars (BEV): They increased by 21.9% in September, reaching 260,256 units. Over the first nine months as a whole, electric car sales rose by 25.4%.
• Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV): They recorded the highest growth rate, a spectacular jump of 62.1% in September, with 132,197 units sold.

In contrast, demand for classic internal combustion engines continues to fall sharply: gasoline sales fell by 7.9%, while diesel cars recorded a decline of 15.5% in September, with only 78,045 units sold.

Manufacturer Ranking: VW Group Remains Leader, Dacia Impresses

In the top manufacturers, the Volkswagen Group maintains its position as the absolute leader, recording a solid increase in sales both in September (+9.7%) and over the nine months (+4.4%).

Stellantis ranks second, although it records an overall decrease in sales between January and September (-5.6%), despite an 11.5% advance in September. The podium is completed by the Renault Group, which had a positive evolution throughout the year (+6.9%).

Within the Renault Group, the Romanian brand Dacia had an exceptional performance in September, recording a 25.5% increase in sales. Dacia thus consolidates its position at the top of the market, with the Sandero model ranking among the best-selling cars in Europe, alongside the Tesla Model Y and the Renault Clio.

Regional Context: Central and Eastern Europe Grows, Romania Makes a Spectacular Comeback

While the major markets in Western Europe struggle to fully recover, the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region outperformed the European Union average in the first nine months of the year.

However, Romania was an exception in CEE, recording a decline in registrations of -5.8% between January and September, a decrease attributed by specialists to the postponement and reduction of the Rabla Program budget. Despite this negative result for the year, the Romanian market showed strong signs of recovery in September, recording a spectacular increase of over 38% in sales, boosted by the late start of the subsidy program.

In conclusion, September 2025 highlights an increasingly polarized European auto market: confidence is returning, but it is moving massively towards electrified engines, while the segment of traditional gasoline and diesel cars is rapidly shrinking under the pressure of regulations and the increasingly varied offer of low-emission vehicles.