(MENAFN) The European Union’s passenger car market experienced a notable 5.3% increase in August compared to the same month last year, with new registrations reaching 677,786 vehicles, according to figures released Thursday by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

Across a broader European region—including the EU, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK—new car sales rose 4.7% year-over-year, totaling 791,349 units in August.

Among key EU markets, Spain led the charge with a sharp 17.2% growth, followed by Germany’s moderate 5% rise. However, the Netherlands and Italy diverged from the overall positive trend, each experiencing a 2.7% decline in new car sales.

Electric vehicles remained the powerhouse behind the sector’s expansion. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged 30.2% year-on-year in August, reaching 120,797 units and representing 17.8% of total new car sales. Spain recorded a staggering 160.8% increase in BEV purchases, while Germany and France posted respective gains of 45.7% and 29.3%.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) solidified their market dominance, making up 33.9% of the EU’s new car registrations in August. HEV registrations climbed 14.1% to 229,970 units.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also enjoyed strong momentum, with sales up 54.5% at 70,545 units.

By contrast, sales of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles fell sharply. Petrol car registrations dropped 16.3%, holding 26.3% of the market share, while diesel registrations declined 17.5%, representing just 8.8% of total sales in August. Most EU countries recorded double-digit decreases in these segments.

This data highlights a clear shift in Europe’s automotive landscape, as electrification accelerates and conventional fuel-powered vehicles continue to lose ground.

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