The Automotive Update: What Were Europe’s Fastest-Selling Used Cars in April?
April’s European used‑car market saw the Tesla Model Y and Cupra Formentor dominate speed charts, topping sales in two of seven key markets each. Dacia Sandero, Toyota Yaris Cross, SEAT Leon and Volkswagen Polo also featured prominently, with the Sandero leading Spain’s fastest‑sell list. Across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, residual values remained broadly stable despite a slight month‑on‑month dip. Meanwhile, Australia extended its electric‑vehicle tax‑rebate programme, keeping FBT exemptions for cars up to roughly $49,500 USD through 2029.
Monthly Market Update: Used Car Residual Values Stable in April
Across Europe, used‑car residual values (RVs) held steady in April, with only marginal month‑on‑month declines. The UK saw the steepest drop, a 2.3% fall to about $19.6k, while Austria’s sales‑volume index jumped 11.7% and demand rose 12.2% year‑on‑year. Hybrid EVs...
Are Things Looking up for the EU’s New LCV Market?
The EU light‑commercial‑vehicle (LCV) market posted a modest 2.3% year‑on‑year increase in Q1 2026, with 360,648 new registrations reversing an 8.8% drop in 2025. Electric LCVs surged 42% to 43,441 units, lifting the electrified segment to a 12% share of total...
US New-Car Market Growth Impacted by Multiple Factors in April
JD Power projects U.S. new‑car sales for April 2026 at 1.365 million units, a 7.3% year‑on‑year decline and 1.3 million fewer units on a seasonally‑adjusted annualized basis. Average retail transaction prices remain near $45,990 while average loan rates dip to 6.73%, yet...
The Automotive Update: Used Vehicle Retail Summit and Regional EV Sales
The Used Vehicle Retail Summit highlighted a rapid shift toward electric‑vehicle (EV) inventory, emphasizing battery‑health reporting, digital retail tools, and cross‑border sales opportunities. Dealers were urged to solidify EV strategies as used‑EV transactions accelerate and consumers rely more on online...
New BEV Market Growth Continues at Pace in Australia
Australian battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged in February 2026, reaching 11,101 units – a 94.5% year‑on‑year increase. The first two months of the year recorded 18,656 BEVs sold, up 94.8% from the same period in 2025. Tesla’s Model Y remains the...
The Automotive Update: Contrasting Fortunes for Europe’s Major New-Car Markets
Europe’s five largest new‑car markets posted mixed Q1 2026 results. Germany’s registrations rose 5.2% with battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) capturing 22.8% of sales, overtaking petrol for the first time. The UK saw a 5.9% YoY increase and a 14.5% jump in BEV...
The Automotive Update: Hope for Europe’s New and Used-Car Markets?
The latest JD Power webinar predicts Europe’s new‑car market will grow modestly in 2026, with 40% of participants expecting a 0‑2% year‑on‑year increase and overall light‑vehicle sales rising just 0.1%. EV adoption remains uneven, but price gaps are narrowing as small...
Europe’s Auto Forecast 2026: Technology, Policy and EV Adoption
A JD Power‑Autovista24 webinar revealed that Europe’s 2026 new‑car outlook has been trimmed to a modest 0.1% growth, down from a 1.7% rise projected months earlier. The downgrade reflects slower GDP growth in the EU, the US and China, and potential...
Monthly Market Update: Balanced Used Car Supply and Demand in Europe?
The March 2026 Autovista24 market update shows a growing equilibrium between used‑car supply and demand across major European markets. Sales‑volume index (SVI) and active‑market volume index (AMVI) rose in most countries, with Germany, Spain and the UK posting double‑digit gains,...
What Is an Infotainment System?
Infotainment systems have replaced legacy cassette and CD players, turning vehicle interiors into digital hubs that combine entertainment, navigation, and vehicle diagnostics. Touchscreen displays now deliver streaming music, real‑time traffic, EV battery health, and access to advanced driver‑assistance settings. While...
What Is Shaping Europe’s New-Car Forecast in 2026?
The upcoming "Europe’s Auto Forecast 2026" webinar will dissect how shifting emissions policies, uneven electric‑vehicle adoption, and divergent OEM strategies are reshaping Europe’s new‑car market outlook. Panelists from JD Power and Autovista24 will evaluate the European Commission’s Automotive Package, the...