EU new-car registrations jump on strong demand across all markets

Brussels – EU new-car registrations rose 13.7% year-on-year in April to 913,995 units, reversing a declining trend registered in March linked to the Easter holidays.

Growth was achieved due to strong year-on-year increases across all major markets: Spain (23.1%), Germany (19.8%), France (10.9%), and Italy (7.7%), the ACEA* reported 22 May.

Furthermore, April this year had “two extra sales days” compared to the same month last year, when the Easter holidays fell in April.

Year-to-date, new-car registrations increased by 6.6% in the EU, reaching nearly 3.7 million units.

“Solid growth” was recorded in the top four largest markets over the period, with Germany and Spain each seeing a 7.8% increase year-over-year, followed by France at 7% and Italy at 6.1%.

During April, battery-electric cars maintained nearly 12% of the EU car market, on a par with 11.8% reported last year.

Hybrid-electrics' share rose to 29.1% from 24.9% last year, while plug-in hybrids accounted for 6.8% of the total car market, with 62,148 units sold.

The combined share of petrol and diesel vehicles dropped to less than half the market, at 48.9%, down from 52.8%.