New car sales in the EU experienced a strong recovery in June, fueled by gains in three of the region's four major markets, according to the latest data released Thursday by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
New car registrations increased by 4.3% year-over-year, reaching 1.089 million units in June. This marks a reversal from the 3.0% decline observed in May.
Among the four major markets, Italy posted the most significant growth at 15.1%, followed by Germany with a 6.1% rise. Spain also saw a year-over-year increase of 2.2%, while the French car market experienced a 4.8% decline in sales.
Demand for hybrid-electric vehicles surged by 26.4%, with all four of the largest markets for this segment reporting double-digit gains.
Battery electric vehicle sales in June saw a slight annual decrease of 1.0%, with their market share falling to 14.4% from 15.1%. Conversely, plug-in hybrid car registrations plummeted by 19.9%, with Belgium notably experiencing a 49.2% drop.
The EU's petrol car sales contracted modestly by 0.7%, reducing their market share to 34.4% in June from 36.2% the previous year. Similarly, the diesel car market saw a 0.9% decline in sales, accounting for 12.7% of the total share.
In the first half of 2024, new car sales increased by 4.5%, totaling nearly 5.7 million units. However, registration volumes remain relatively low compared to pre-pandemic levels.
