New Car Sales in Spain Rise by 16% in October: the Market Regains Confidence

Spain’s automotive market closes October with strong results, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the second month in a row. Electrified vehicles now account for more than 22% of total sales.

October 2025 brought very positive news for Spain’s automotive industry. According to the latest registration data, new car sales increased by 16% compared to the same period last year, with nearly 100,000 vehicles registered. This is not an isolated figure — for the second consecutive month, sales have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, confirming the market’s steady recovery after years of uncertainty and fluctuating demand.

Electrification Takes the Lead

One of the key drivers behind this growth is the shift toward vehicle electrification. In October alone, 21,687 plug-in hybrid and fully electric cars were sold, meaning electrified models now represent 22% of total sales. Overall, one in every four new cars sold in Spain features some form of electrified powertrain, reflecting a growing public preference for sustainable and energy-efficient mobility.

Strong Year-to-Date Results and Positive Year-End Outlook

So far in 2025, the market has recorded 951,516 vehicles sold, marking a 14.9% increase compared to the same period last year—although still 10% below 2019 levels. Nevertheless, the strong pace through October supports forecasts suggesting that Spain could close the year with over 1.1 million new car registrations, a result that would reinforce industry confidence and highlight the resilience of the country’s automotive sector.

Private Buyers and Companies Drive Sales as Rentals Decline

Breaking down the numbers by channel, private buyers led the market with 51,359 units sold (+23.9%), followed by corporate fleets with 39,860 units (+10.2%). The rental market, however, declined by 5.2%, totaling 5,566 registrations. These figures suggest a steady, sustainable demand from individuals and businesses, while the seasonal rental segment continues to adjust to shifting travel patterns.

Toyota Tops the Charts, Followed by Renault and Volkswagen

When it comes to brand performance, Toyota claimed the top spot in October with 7,365 units sold, ahead of Renault (7,080) and Volkswagen (6,937). The same trio leads the year-to-date rankings, with Toyota (81,047), Renault (67,775), and Volkswagen (63,069) securing the podium. SEAT follows in fourth place with 55,498 units, while Chinese manufacturer MG completes the top five with 38,989.

Among individual models, the Dacia Sandero remained Spain’s best-seller in October with 3,484 units, followed by the Peugeot 2008 (2,259) and the Renault Clio (2,105). So far in 2025, the Sandero leads comfortably with 32,249 sales, ahead of the MG ZS (20,726) and the Renault Clio (20,180), which has temporarily overtaken the SEAT Ibiza (19,182).