European car market reports modest growth
The UK new car market grew for the third year in a row in 2025, breaching the two million mark for the first time since the pandemic, with 2,020,520 registrations, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The market rose by 3.5%, with growth across all buyer types.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The new car market finally reaching two million registrations for the first time this decade is a reasonably solid result amid tough economic and geopolitical headwinds. Rising EV uptake is an undoubted positive, but the pace is still too slow and the cost to industry too high. Given developments abroad, government should act urgently to deliver a vibrant market, a sustainable industry and an investment proposition that keeps the UK at the forefront of global competition.”
Figures from ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, show new EU car registrations increased by 1.4% from January to November 2025, compared with the same period in 2024.
Despite the recent positive momentum, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels, it noted.
