EVs saw 308,955 registrations in December, surpassing gas cars in European markets for the first time.
Hybrids remain ahead in total sales, but EVs are growing at a much faster rate.
Gasoline and diesel vehicle registrations declined sharply year-over-year in both monthly and annual data.
Electric vehicles outsold gasoline-powered passenger cars in Europe for the first time in December 2025, according to registration data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The milestone demonstrates that consumer preferences are evolving as manufacturers grow their electric offerings.
A total of 308,955 EVs were registered across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in December, representing an increase of more than 50% compared with the same month in 2024. By contrast, 254,449 gasoline cars were registered in the same region, marking a 17.7% year-over-year decline.
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The December results mimic a trend seen throughout 2025. EVs previously overtook diesel vehicles in total registrations, and plug-in hybrids surpassed diesel sales one year earlier. Diesel-powered passenger vehicles continued their decline, with just over 70,000 units registered in December, down 23.1% from the previous year.
Although hybrid vehicles remain the leading segment by volume, the gap is narrowing. In December, hybrid registrations totalled 380,921 across the EU, UK, and EFTA. However, growth in that category was limited to 4.9% year-over-year, compared to more than 50% for EVs.
In full-year terms, nearly 2.6 million EVs were registered in Europe in 2025, marking a 29.7% increase over 2024. Hybrid vehicle registrations reached nearly 4.6 million units, up 12.4% year-over-year. Plug-in hybrids saw 1.2 million registrations, an increase of 33.4%.
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Gasoline vehicles totalled 3.5 million registrations in 2025, a decline of 18.9% from the prior year. Diesel vehicle sales fell by 24%, reaching just 1 million units.
The change is driven in part by a growing range of lower-priced EVs now available to European consumers. Among the models contributing to the trend are the electric Renault 5, among many others, as well as a growing number of Chinese offerings that start at approximately $45,000 CAD (€28,000). Automakers are also adding electric models to meet fleet emissions targets set by regulators.
While the European Union’s proposed 2035 ban on internal combustion engine vehicles is under review, current trends indicate an accelerating market shift towards electrification.
Source: Insideevs
