Spain’s car registration figures turned negative in May 2026, highlighting a sharp reversal in momentum for the country’s auto market on a year-over-year basis. The latest data, updated on 1 June 2026, show that car registrations fell by 0.80% compared to May a year earlier, a notable drop from the 8.40% year-over-year increase recorded in April 2026.
The shift suggests that after a strong rebound in April, demand or registrations cooled significantly in May when measured against last year’s levels. The data are based on year-over-year comparisons, where the “current” figure reflects the change in May 2026 relative to May 2025, and the “previous” figure reflects the change in April 2026 relative to April 2025.
The abrupt move from robust growth to contraction in just one month will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers, as it may signal emerging headwinds for Spain’s automotive sector and, more broadly, for consumer spending dynamics in the country.
