Brussels: The EU passenger car market saw a 10% growth in September compared to the same month last year, with 888,672 new automobile registrations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association released data indicating a significant rise in the market, largely driven by the increasing adoption of electric vehicles.

In a broader context, which includes the EU, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK, new car sales rose by 10.7% year-on-year, reaching 1.23 million units during the same period. This growth was notably led by major EU car markets, with Spain recording a 16.4% increase, followed by Germany at 12.8%, and Italy with a 4.2% rise.

Electric vehicles played a pivotal role in driving the market’s expansion. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales saw a 20% year-on-year increase, amounting to 167,586 units and representing 18.9% of total new car sales. Spain experienced a remarkable 59.7% surge in BEV sales, while Germany and France also reported substantial gains of 31.9% and 11.2%, respectively.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) further established their presence, capturing 34.7% of the EU market in September. Registrations of HEVs increased by 15.9%, reaching 308,037 units. Additionally, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles exhibited strong growth, with sales rising by 65.4% to 91,148 units.

In contrast, traditional internal combustion engine vehicles experienced significant declines. Petrol car registrations dropped by 7.8%, reducing their market share to 24.9%. Diesel car registrations also fell by 14.3%, with their market share shrinking to 8.1% in September, as most EU markets recorded double-digit declines.