Europe Taps the Brakes: Car Sales Slump in June

After three straight months of growth, Europe’s new car market hit reverse in June. EU countries registered just over one million new passenger vehicles during the month—down 7.3 percent compared to last June. And this isn’t just a monthly hiccup: for the first half of the year, total deliveries slipped to 5.576 million units, marking a 1.9 percent year-on-year drop.

But not all the news is grim. While internal combustion engines continue their slow fade from center stage, electric and hybrid vehicles are accelerating. Hybrids captured a commanding 34.8 percent of the market in the first six months, with plug-in hybrids adding 8.4 percent and full EVs claiming 15.6 percent. Petrol-powered cars now make up just 28.4 percent of the market, while diesel has dwindled to 9.4 percent.

Among Europe’s big markets, only Spain defied the trend, posting a sunny 13.9 percent increase. France fell 7.9 percent, Germany dropped 4.7 percent, and Italy slid 3.6 percent—clear signs the continent’s heavyweights are sputtering.