The year 2025 has brought an interesting reconfiguration of car preferences on the European continent. As the transition to hybrid and electric vehicles gathers pace, sales rankings reflect a close battle between tradition and new mobility trends. According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the European market is showing signs of resilience, with a slight increase in total registrations.
The Volkswagen Group continues to be the undisputed leader in Europe. With over 1.32 million units registered in the first 11 months, the German brand achieved a growth of 5.5% compared to last year. Their success is mainly due to the diversification of the portfolio, where the ID (electric) models are starting to recover ground, alongside the classic Golf and Tiguan.
| Rank | Brand | Units Registered | Evolution (vs. 2024) |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 1,328,916 | +5.5% |
| 2 | Toyota | 780,495 | -7.4% |
| 3 | Skoda | 770,506 | +9.9% |
| 4 | BMW | 728,598 | +3.0% |
| 5 | Renault | 674,562 | +7.6% |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz | 614,744 | -0.7% |
| 7 | Audi | 600,089 | -2.1% |
| 8 | Peugeot | 596,706 | +0.1% |
| 9 | Dacia | 547,673 | +4.9% |
| 10 | Hyundai | 484,327 | -1.1% |
On the podium we find surprises and confirmations:
2nd place – Toyota: Although it recorded a 7.4% decrease (780,495 units), the Japanese giant retains its silver, benefiting from the huge demand for hybrid technology.
3rd place – Skoda: The Czech brand is the big winner of the year, with an impressive jump of 9.9% (770,506 units), blowing Toyota's head off.
Dacia occupies an honorable position at the European level, ranking 9th, with almost 550,000 units, managing to outpace brands with huge budgets, such as Hyundai.
Locally, the Romanian market is following a slightly different trajectory. Although new car registrations experienced a slight decrease in the 11-month cumulative period (-1.3% compared to 2024), November was an "explosive" month, with an increase of over 35%, a sign that the incentive programs and end-of-year offers worked.
Top 10 new brands in Romania (January – November 2025)
According to ACAROM data, the ranking remains authoritatively dominated by the local brand, but the fight for the remaining places is fierce:
| Rank | Brand | Units Registered | Market Context |
| 1 | Dacia | 38,942 | Domestic Market Leader |
| 2 | Toyota | 14,169 | Strong Hybrid Demand |
| 3 | Skoda | 10,151 | Top European Import |
| 4 | Renault | 8,844 | Steady Growth |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 8,719 | Mainstream Preference |
| 6 | Hyundai | 8,230 | Focus on SUVs |
| 7 | Ford | 6,512 | Commercial & Passenger Mix |
| 8 | Mercedes-Benz | 5,083 | Premium Segment Leader |
| 9 | BMW | 4,939 | High Demand for X-Series |
| 10 | Suzuki | 3,654 | Mild-Hybrid Popularity |
A notable aspect in Romania is the appetite for green cars. Hybrids have become the favorites of Romanians, representing almost half of the new car market, while gasoline and diesel engines have lost about 30% of their volume compared to the previous year.
Also, the recently launched Dacia Bigster model caused a sensation in the last months of the year. In November, it climbed to 4th place in the top of the best-selling models, demonstrating that Romanians are ready to invest in higher segments under the Mioveni logo.
The year 2025 ends with a stable European car market, but under pressure for change. While Volkswagen dominates the vast majority of Europe, in Romania, Dacia remains king, but with increasing pressure from Toyota and Asian brands that are betting everything on hybridization.