EVs Overtake Petrol - Dramatic Sales Shift EU Car Market 2025

Europe has finally crossed the Rubicon, darling — October 2025 marks the month petrol power lost its long-held throne. The EU’s latest sales data reads like the opening act of a new automotive era, with electric and hybrid models marching in and taking charge with all the confidence of a Mardi Gras headliner.

Overall EU registrations are only up 1.4% for the year, but the real story is the seismic tilt in consumer taste. A commanding 63.9% of October’s new cars were battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid. Hybrids remain the everyday hero of the continent, pulling 34.6% market share and racking up over 3.1 million registrations YTD. Spain and France are leading the movement with growth north of 26% — clearly keen to step away from pure petrol dependence.

BEVs are shining bright too: nearly 1.5 million registered so far this year, with Germany flexing hardest at +39.4%. October alone? A massive 38.6% year-on-year jump.

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ABOVE: EV and Hybrid Models dominate in Europe – will Australia follow

Plug-in hybrids are having an unexpected renaissance, posting the strongest growth of any segment. Up 43.2% in October, PHEVs now sit at over 819,000 units for the year. Spain and Italy delivered wild triple-digit increases — Southern Europe clearly loves a balanced option.

Meanwhile, petrol and diesel have entered their retirement era. Combined market share has slumped to 36.6%, down from 46.3% last year. Diesel is now under 10%, and petrol has dropped 18.3% YTD. France posted a brutal 32.3% petrol decline, with Germany not far behind.

Volkswagen Group still reigns as Europe’s top carmaker, while BYD (+206.8%) and SAIC (+35.9%) are strutting confidently into the EV space. Tesla, on the other hand, plunged 48.5% — a sign that product tweaks can’t always outshine leadership theatrics.

The real surprise? Dacia Sandero — Europe’s best-selling car for October and 2025 YTD. Proof that the continent still has a soft spot for simple, honest, affordable wheels.

The message from the market is clear: electrification isn’t a trend. It’s the new normal, heels on, bag in hand, ready for its close-up.

But will Australia follow?
History says we arrive late to every global motoring party, then pretend we meant to. With EV incentives patchy, charging still catching up, and fleets dragging their feet, we’re not about to overtake Europe anytime soon. But the writing is on the wall — and it’s written in big neon letters. As prices fall and more hybrids and BEVs land on our shores, Australia will eventually make the same shift. Slowly, stubbornly, and probably complaining the whole way — but inevitably.

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