For December 2025, the Western European passenger vehicle (PV - cars) market grew for a sixth consecutive month, according to GlobalData. Sales were up 6% YoY, with a total circa one million units. 2025 sales finished with a total of 11.8 million units for the year (+2% YoY), which is well above our earlier-in-the-year expectations, when the market was posting YoY declines and there were major concerns over global trade tension. GlobalData forecast modest growth in the Western European PV market in 2026, as sluggish economic conditions in the region’s largest markets persist.

Across the five largest Western European markets, sales trends shifted from recent patterns: Germany was the strongest market this month, while Spain, 2025’s standout performer, posted its first sales decline in over a year. Italy and the UK also delivered positive results, while France’s sales continued to struggle.

The UK PV market ended 2025 strongly, with December sales up nearly 4% YoY to 146k units. The selling rate dipped over 4% to 2.18 million units/year but remained healthy. Around 2 million cars were registered in 2025 (+3.5% YoY), the first time the market has hit 2 million since 2019, despite macro headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty.

France’s PV market fell nearly 6% YoY in December to 173k units, though the selling rate rose over 5% MoM to 1.85 million units/year. Full-year 2025 registrations were 1.63 million, down 5% YoY, as weak confidence and cautious consumers, alongside elevated financing costs, continued to weigh on demand.

Spain’s PV market fell for the first time in 16 months in December, with sales down just over 2% YoY to 103k units. The selling rate still rose by over 1% to 1.31 million units/year, a strong performance. Full-year 2025 PV sales reached 1.15 million units, up about 13% against 2024. Growth was driven by various factors including stronger private and fleet demand, MOVES-backed EV registrations, one-off replacement demand after the DANA storm in Valencia, regional scrappage/renewal schemes, and competitive new entrants.  

Meanwhile, Germany’s PV market grew for a sixth straight month in December 2025, with registrations up nearly 10% YoY to 246k units. The selling rate rose to 3.31 million units/year, the highest since August 2023. Full-year 2025 sales reached 2.86 million units, up 1% YoY. BEV sales jumped 43% YoY, taking a 19% share of PV sales.

The Italian PV market grew over 2% YoY in December 2025 as sales totalled 108k units. The monthly selling rate also improved to 1.67 million units/year. Sales finished the year at 1.53 million units, down over 2% from 2024’s result as a weak macro backdrop and subdued demand weighed on volumes, with support concentrated late in the year through EV incentives.