Car sales in September were 10 percent higher compared to the same month last year. As a result, the average sales figures for 2025 are slightly above those of the previous year, according to the European automotive industry association ACEA.
Manufacturers benefited in September from the launch of new models, with hybrid vehicles remaining the most popular choice. Hybrids, which combine an electric motor with a combustion engine, accounted for more than one in three registered cars.
Conversely, gasoline and diesel vehicles saw a decline in demand. In the first nine months of this year, nearly one-fifth fewer gasoline cars were registered, leading to a decrease in market share from 34 percent to 28 percent.
Fully electric vehicles now represent 16 percent of sales and have gained popularity compared to last year. ACEA describes this share as “still too low for the pace required during this phase of the transition” towards a cleaner vehicle fleet.
The Netherlands is lagging behind the EU average this year, particularly in the growth of hybrid and fully electric vehicles, which is not being matched in the country.
Despite the positive sales figures, European automakers are facing challenging times. The Nijmegen-based chip manufacturer Nexperia is unable to export automotive chips due to a dispute with its Chinese owner. According to ACEA, the current stock of Nexperia chips is expected to be depleted in a few weeks, as detailed in the article below.
