Europe is riding the electric wave, but this year the wave seems to be more of an ebb than a tide. Even Elon Musk could say: “Don’t panic, everyone is sinking with me.” But what is really happening? Let’s look at the numbers in the EU!
Let's see - the best-selling cars in 2025 according to statistics.
The year 2025 is expected to be a turning point for the electrification of the car fleet in Europe. But the first four months show that plans have collided with reality. Total registrations of new passenger cars in Europe fell by 0.4 %, which at first glance does not sound tragic. But within the EU the picture was different – here the market even grew by 4.6 % compared to the same period last year. So where is the problem?
Best-selling cars in the EU in the first half of 2025
The European passenger car market stabilized in early 2025, with affordable city cars and small SUVs rising to the top of the best-selling models. After several years of dominance Dacia Sandero The Peugeot 208 (in March) and Renault Clio (April). Nevertheless, Dacia Sandero remains the best-selling model in Europe throughout 2025 so far. The top ten models include several representatives from Renault, Dacia, Peugeot, Volkswagen and Toyota. Below is a table of the top ten best-selling models in the EU (by number of new registrations) in the first half of 2025, along with sales estimates and the primary powertrain of each model.
Footnote: The full official data for the period January–June 2025 have not yet been published, so the table uses the latest available data (mostly for the first four months in 2025). Let's see - the best-selling cars in the EU.
| City | Model | Sales 2025¹ |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dacia Sandero | ~86.000 |
| 2. | Peugeot 208 | ~75.000 |
| 3. | Renault Clio | ~73.900 |
| 4. | Volkswagen Tiguan | – double-digit growth |
| 5. | Citroën C3 | – double-digit growth |
| 6. | Toyota Yaris Cross | – double-digit growth |
| 7. | Dacia Duster | – double-digit growth |
| 8. | Volkswagen Golf | – (sales decline in April) |
| 9. | Volkswagen T-Roc | – (sales decline in April) |
| 10. | Toyota Yaris | – (sales decline in April) |
The answer lies in a complex mix of stricter environmental regulations, production strategies and consumer habits. Brussels has relaxed CO2 rules this year and is introducing a three-year average of emissions (2025-2027), which gives manufacturers more flexibility. But this “grace period” may also encourage tactical thinking, which has consequently slowed down the market’s growth.
The most interesting fact? Diesel engines are losing the battle to – plug-in hybrids. They have almost caught up with them in terms of sales share, which is a historic moment. Meanwhile, pure electric vehicles (BEVs) are holding on to a 17% market share, which is growth, but slower than predicted. Together with plug-in hybrids, electrified vehicles now account for 25% of the market (up from 20% last year). By comparison – China is already at 50% of the market.
The biggest winner? Hybrids. ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) notes that they have a 35% market share. But beware: this number mixes “true” hybrids and mild hybrids, which confuses the efficiency analysis.
Despite the optimism in Brussels, most car brands are recording lower registrations than last year. There are several reasons: from delivery delays, a poorer offer for smaller models, to the simple truth that buyers are not yet ready for full electrification - neither psychologically nor financially.
Conclusion: EU industry at a crossroads
The prevailing feeling among European car manufacturers is like a cat waking up after a long night: everything was great in theory, but now we have to live with the consequences. The electrification of the vehicle fleet is happening, but slowly, with large regional differences and many obstacles.
The fact that plug-in hybrids are almost on par with diesels is a big step. But the fact that hybrids are the kings of the market suggests a kind of compromise between nostalgia and the future. The price of electric vehicles still hinders mass adoption, and although the infrastructure is improving, the psychological barrier is still high.
Although Tesla is no longer the lone symbol of trouble, with numbers falling almost everywhere, it only means one thing: a new balance is coming. The automotive industry in Europe must now, more than ever, navigate between innovation and consumer reality. And perhaps 2025 is the beginning of this challenging transition – from dreams to calculated decisions.
The real drama is just beginning.
