Slowing electric transition, sales above EU average: this was the regional car market in 2025

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 03. 20. 10:40

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Despite difficult-to-predict economic developments, the Central and Eastern European automotive market showed an acceleration in 2025 that exceeded expectations and Western European growth. Hybrid powertrains and Chinese brands are expected to gain further ground in the coming years, as they aim to build a decisive global presence and demonstrate their leadership in electrification technology, for which Europe is the springboard, according to the report compiled by AutoWallis for the third time. As the leading automotive retailer and integrated mobility service provider in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, AutoWallis is present in 17 countries with 30 brands, thus having a comprehensive picture of the processes and trends experienced in Hungary and the surrounding countries, which it summarizes in its semi-annual CEE Automotive Report.

AutoWallis’ operating region is Central and Eastern Europe, therefore the professional analysis primarily focuses on this area. The company is present in 17 countries – Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, Kosovo, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia – with its wholesale, retail and mobility services activities for vehicles and parts, representing 30 brands and with more than three decades of automotive experience. AutoWallis’ growth strategy therefore focuses on this region, as in this environment with great growth potential, the group’s specialists have usable knowledge and value-creating capabilities that surpass their competitors.

The CEE Automotive Report

The share of electric powertrains among new cars has continued to grow

In terms of new passenger car registrations, the countries of the CEE region showed a 7.7% increasecompared to the EU average of 1.8%. Austria had the highest growth rate in the region (12.3%), but the performance of the Slovenian market (8.6%) and the Polish market (8.3%) was also outstanding. Only Slovakia recorded a decrease in the region (-0.3%). The trend was positive in 19 markets out of the 27 EU member states compared to 2024, although the volume shows significant differences by country. At the same time, registrations of battery-electric passenger cars (BEVs) increased by an average of 29.7% in Europe in 2025, with the European Union showing an increase of 29.9%. In terms of the CEE region average, the registration of pure electric cars significantly exceeds the EU average growth (53.3%). The highest growth was recorded in electric vehicles.