New car registrations in the EU fell by 6.1% in September 2024, with major markets showing mixed results, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). 

The decline was particularly pronounced in three of the region's four largest markets, with France experiencing an 11.1% drop, Italy 10.7%, and Germany 7%.  

In contrast, Spain saw a rebound with a 6.3% increase. 

Despite the downturn in September, the cumulative figures for the first nine months of 2024 showed a slight overall increase of 0.6%, with nearly eight million units registered.  

Spain and Italy recorded growth of 4.7% and 2.1%, respectively, while the French and German markets saw decline of 1.8% and 1%, respectively. 

The electric vehicle segment presented a complex picture.  

Battery-electric cars increased their EU market share to 17.3% in September, up from 14.8% the previous year.  

However, their year-to-date volumes fell by 5.8%, with market share decreasing to 13.1% from 14%.  

This was partly due to a reduction in Germany, where registrations dropped by 28.6%. 

Plug-in hybrid registrations also declined sharply by 22.3% across all major markets. 

Despite the fall in plug-in hybrid registrations, battery-electric vehicles saw a rise of 9.8% in September, reaching 139,702 units.  

Yet, the year-to-date performance remained 5.8% lower compared to the same period last year.  

Plug-in hybrids accounted for 6.8% of the market, a decrease from 8.2% in the previous year, with 54,889 units sold. 

Hybrid-electric vehicles bucked the trend with a 12.5% increase in registrations in September, capturing a market share of 32.8%, which surpassed petrol car sales.  

Petrol car registrations fell by 17.9%, with all key markets experiencing double-digit declines.  

As a result, petrol cars now hold 29.8% of the market share, a decrease from 34% in September of the previous year.  

The diesel car market also contracted by 23.5%, now representing just 10.4% of the market, with two-thirds of EU markets posting declines. 

Recently, a study commissioned by the environmental group Transport & Environment revealed that the five largest economies in the EU are collectively spending €42bn ($45.6bn) per year on subsidies for fossil-fuel company cars.