ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) has released the European market sales figures for February 2025, and two points stand out immediately: registrations fell again, yet a handful of brands posted exceptionally strong sales growth.
European market performance in February 2025
Looking at the market overall, the second month of the year saw a 3.1% drop compared with the same period in 2024, with 963,540 vehicles registered across Europe. For the year to date, the decline stands at 2.6%.
The biggest European markets driving this slowdown were Germany (-6.4%), Italy (-6.2%) and the Netherlands (-8.3%). Portugal also followed the downward trend (-5.1%). With smaller reductions, France (-0.7%) and the United Kingdom (-1%) also contracted. Among the higher-volume markets, Spain was the exception, recording 11% growth.
Renault surprises, but it wasn’t the only one
Even with the market retreating, Volkswagen strengthened its position as Europe’s leading brand, selling 103,681 vehicles (+7.4% versus 2024). The gap to the second-best-selling brand, Toyota, remains very comfortable - a difference of 38,000 units. The Japanese manufacturer sold more than 65,000 vehicles, though that still represents a 7.5% decline.
However, the standout among the 10 best-selling brands in Europe in February was Renault’s climb to third place on the podium, delivering the biggest sales increase in the Top10: +18.8%. That equated to 58,830 units, moving it ahead of arch-rival Peugeot (4th), BMW (5th) and Škoda (6th).
Dacia also deserves a mention, staying within Europe’s 10 best-selling brands, with more than 47,000 registrations and 1.6% growth.
In the opposite direction, beyond Toyota and Škoda (both already noted, with Škoda at -6%), Hyundai recorded the second-largest drop in the Top10: down 7.2% with 37,210 units sold.
Outside the top 10, February 2025 also brought some striking gains. By far the largest was BYD, which almost tripled sales (298.8%) to 6,480 units - a result explained by its limited presence in the European market at the start of last year.
There was also a strong showing from the small Alpine brand, which more than doubled sales (+148.7%) thanks to the new A290, the electric hot hatch. In total, it sold 746 cars.
Alfa Romeo also had positive news, posting a 38.5% increase (4,994 units) in February, driven by the Junior effect. It was Stellantis’ only brand to grow last month; all others fell, with the group down 16.2% overall.
CUPRA (+32.3%) and SEAT (+17.1%), MINI (+29.6%), MG (+26.1%) and Lexus (+19.2%) also featured among the brands with the biggest sales increases.
By contrast, Jaguar, Smart, Mitsubishi and Tesla were among those with the steepest year-on-year declines versus February 2024, down 62%, 59%, 40.2% and 40.1%, respectively.
Year-to-date
Across the year to date for 2025, the podium of best-selling brands is led by Volkswagen with 216,565 units (+12%), followed by Toyota with 138,307 units (-7.4%) and BMW with 115,359 units (-0.4%).
Meanwhile, despite its excellent February result, Renault is not even close to the podium across the first two months - it sits 6th, behind Škoda and Peugeot - with 107,258 registrations (+18.5%).
Once again, BYD and Alpine are the brands posting the biggest gains year to date in 2025, at 287% and 137.8%, respectively.
Also showing similarly strong growth are CUPRA (+42.3%), Lexus (+32.2%), Alfa Romeo (+29.6%) and MG (+21.2%).
On the other hand, Smart (-55.4%), Jaguar (-53.4%) and Tesla (-42.6%) remain among the most heavily hit.
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