Three out of every four cars sold in Catalonia are alternative engine options

BarcelonaThe sale of cars with only diesel or gasoline engines is declining rapidly. In 2026, three out of every four cars sold in Catalonia have an alternative powertrain, with non-plug-in hybrids leading the way. According to data from industry associations, 20,569 cars were sold in Catalonia between January and February, 4.1% more than in the same period of the previous year. Of these sales, 15,424 units were alternative models – hybrids, plug-in hybrids, pure electric vehicles, or gas-powered vehicles – representing 74.9% of the total. Half of the cars registered in Catalonia, 10,270, were non-plug-in hybrids, while plug-in hybrids accounted for 2,144 and fully electric vehicles for 2,342. Gas-powered cars totaled 668. However, plug-in hybrids are gaining ground, increasing by 54.8%, while pure electric vehicles grew by 40.16%. Conversely, non-plug-in hybrids increased by only 13.78%, and gas-powered vehicles fell by 4.9%.

The growth of electrified cars increased despite the fact that the subsidies from the auto plan are not yet in effect due to the repeal of the social shield decree. "For another month, electrification has driven market growth, exceeding 20%," highlighted Raúl Morales, communications director of the automotive industry association Faconauto, who attributes the growth to the announcement that the auto+ plan subsidies will be retroactive. However, he requested that the regulatory framework for this plan be published as soon as possible "to continue providing certainty to buyers and to ensure that electrification continues to increase registrations."

Across the country, registrations of passenger cars and SUVs reached 97,082 units in February, representing a 7.4% increase compared to the same month last year. As for the cumulative figures for the first two months of the year, car sales have increased by 4.6% in the combined January and February figures, reaching 170,186 units.

Combustion engine vehicles continue their downward trend, as usual, and in the case of gasoline vehicles, registrations fell by 20.8% year-on-year in February, with 39,066 sales. However, they retained a 19.5% market share in February and remain the second largest motor vehicle category. Diesel sales plummeted by 28.8% in February of this year, to 7,226 registered units, leaving it with a market share of just 3.4% and ranking as the fifth most popular engine type, only ahead of gas-powered cars. Industry associations have highlighted the increase in car sales this February compared to the same month last year, when registrations had risen sharply due to the replacement of vehicles damaged by the severe weather in the Valencian Community.