After a slow start to the year, Europe’s new-car market has regained momentum. In May, according to data published by ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), registrations across the European Union, EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), and the United Kingdom totaled 1,152,523 vehicles, a 3.6 percent increase versus the same month in 2025.
Growth was 3.2 percent in the European Union, 1.4 percent in the EFTA countries, and 3.6 percent in the UK. Among the major continental markets, Italy once again stood out with the strongest result, posting a 7.6 percent increase in registrations. France and Germany also finished in positive territory at +3.7 percent and +0.1 percent, respectively, while Spain was the only large market to end the month slightly down, with a 0.8 percent decline.
