Western Europe’s car market posts best September in nine years
In September, the Western European Passenger Vehicle (PV) market grew for an eighth consecutive month as sales reached 1.2 mn units, up 8.6% year-on-year (YoY). The monthly selling rate stood at 12.7 mn units/year, while year-to-date (YTD) sales reached 9.4 mn units, up 6.1% YoY.
After the strong August holiday season performance, the Western European PV market performed well once again. Aggregate sales volumes recorded their highest September result since 2017. Four of the region’s big five markets expanded by double digits YoY, with Germany not far behind at 9.0%. The broad themes of Chinese brands and electrification were in assistance once again.
GlobalData has upgraded its 2026 Western European PV forecast to above 12.2 mn units, up 3.8% from 2025’s full-year result, as market competitiveness and EV-focused policy drives demand. A note of caution remains going forward due to economic headwinds.
Source: GlobalData
Following a selling rate of 2 mn units/year in August, the September result was also strong, at 1.9 mn units/year (it is noteworthy that the month of September is seasonally stronger). PV sales rose 11.6% YoY to 156k units, lifting YTD growth to +4.1%. Even so, this year’s total is likely to be little better than the pandemic-hit results at the start of the decade. A weak economic backdrop and a shift away from cheap Basic segment cars continue to hold the market back. However, more competition is forcing keener pricing across the mass market. BEV share rose to 42% in September, taking the YTD share to 31%, this uptake is heavily supported by government incentives.
September is a pivotal month for UK car sales, with the plate change typically accounting for around 14-15% of annual registrations, and the market delivered a strong result. Sales grew 12.0% YoY to 351k units, the tenth consecutive month of growth and the best September since 2017 (this a driving force for the same regional comparison). BEVs had a record month, with volumes up 36.3% YoY. Year-to-date BEV share now stands at 26.2%. The market continues to be driven by intense competition (particularly from new entrants), a wider choice of models and attractive deals. High fuel prices are also nudging more buyers towards electric models.
Source: GlobalData
In Germany, the PV market extended its growth run to an eighth consecutive month in September, with sales up 9.0% YoY to 257k units, the highest September volume since 2020. The monthly selling rate eased 0.9% MoM to 3.0 mn units/year, though this was still the third highest rate this year. YTD PV sales are now up 5.3% as increasing Chinese brand penetration and rising EV shares remain the key themes shaping the market.
Italian PV sales climbed 10.0% YoY to 139k units in September, a ninth consecutive month of growth in 2026 and a sharp pickup from August’s 3.2% gain. The monthly selling rate eased 5.7% MoM to 1.69 mn units/year. YTD PV sales are up 8.7% at 1.27 mn units, the strongest first nine months since 2019. The re-emerging theme is the surging in affordable Chinese imports — however, this is putting Italian vehicle and component manufacturers under increasing pressure.
The Spanish PV market climbed 10.2% YoY to 94k units in September, a fourth consecutive month of growth. The monthly selling rate jumped 11.4% MoM to 1.43 mn units/year, the highest rate in over six years. The strength is driven heavily by the increasing EV and HEV demand, with the two powertrains accounting for 34% of sales, helped by the Auto+ plan, which launched at the end of August.
Source: GlobalData