Leasing is losing ground and has fallen to 25% of new vehicle registrations in Spain

BarcelonaDuring 2025, leasing companies registered 351,287 vehicles in Spain, representing a 4.51% increase over the previous year's 336,142, according to data published by the Spanish Vehicle Leasing Association (AER). However, the growth rate of vehicle acquisitions for leasing is lower than the overall growth of new vehicle registrations in Spain, as a total of 1.36 million vehicles were sold in the country during 2025, a 12.33% increase compared to the previous year. Therefore, leasing accounted for 25.74% of total vehicle registrations in 2025, meaning that one in four new vehicles was acquired by leasing companies, compared to 27.67% in 2024. This weight loss coincides with an exceptionally good year for total vehicle sales in the state. The vehicle segment where leasing has the greatest presence is that of commercial vehicles, vans, and pick upwhere the sector holds 42.59% of the market.

In the last month of the year, December, 33,387 cars were registered in the leasing sector, compared to 33,597 in December 2024, representing a 0.63% decrease. Meanwhile, the overall market fell by 0.53% with 121,351 registrations per month. This month, leasing accounted for 52.79% of new registrations in the entire business channel, while in December 2024 it represented 50.43%. Year-to-date, leasing accounts for 49.23% of the business channel, compared to 49.33% at the end of 2024. Total investment by leasing companies in acquiring new vehicles in 2025 was 7.35% higher than in 2024, when €7.618 billion was invested. December saw an investment of €809 million, 6.05% higher than the €763 million invested in December 2024. Despite the sector's slight decrease in total vehicle registrations, José-Martín Castro Acebes, president of the Spanish Vehicle Leasing Association, believes the data indicates that 2025 "has been a great year for leasing in terms of registrations." The industry leader highlights that "there has been growth in units, investment, and the adoption of more efficient technologies, confirming that the estimates made were realistic and that the sector is responding consistently, in a year with very good results for the overall market." In fact, Castro Acebes is confident that the regulations will remain stable "so that leasing can continue to grow and contribute to the modernization and sustainability of mobility in Spain."

Clean Technologies

By technology, in 2025, 49,887 units of the different types of electrified vehicles (pure electric, extended-range electric, plug-in hybrid gasoline, and plug-in hybrid diesel) were registered under leasing agreements, representing 14.20% of total leasing registrations. In the overall market, these technologies represent 17.85% of total registrations. Leasing accounts for 20.48% of total electrified vehicle registrations. On the other hand, vehicles powered by alternative energies (electrified, hybrid, gas, and hydrogen) accounted for 51.31% of total leasing registrations in 2025, compared to 38.19% in 2024. Leasing represents 22.88% of total alternative energy vehicle registrations.