Last February, new passenger car registrations totaled 979,321 units, representing a 1.7% increase across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and EFTA (European Free Trade Association, which includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).

In detail, Italy led the major markets with a 14% jump, followed by Spain (+7.5%) and the United Kingdom (+7.2%). The other major markets, Germany and France, saw diverging paths, with a slight increase across the Rhine (+3.8%) and a sharp decline in France (-14.7%).

Since the beginning of the year, registrations have fallen by 1%, as consumer confidence continues to be weighed down by macroeconomic pressures, high interest rates, and vehicle prices, according to Baader Europe.

By group, Renault saw its sales slump by 14.3% last month to 91,619 units, with its market share falling to 9.4%. Breaking it down, the Renault brand declined by 7.3%, while Dacia plummeted by 23.4%. Dacia's underperformance is attributed to logistical issues related to weather in the Mediterranean and an engine changeover that hampered production. As a small consolation, the Clio was the best-selling model in February, with a total of 15,802 units sold.

For Stellantis, new passenger vehicle registrations rose by 9.5% to 170,816 units, driven by Fiat (+49.4%) and Opel (+30.5%). Fiat's strong figures were 73% attributable to the launch of the Grande Panda.

The volume leader in Europe remains the Volkswagen Group, with 256,452 units sold in February (+2.2%). The giant's sales were bolstered by Skoda (+18.7%). The group's market share increased slightly to 26.2%.