Europeans continue to prefer hybrid cars, proving the importance of an EU transport policy that includes renewable ethanol

The latest data from the European automobile industry once again confirms the continued importance of renewable ethanol, the most effective way to reduce emissions from the hybrid and petrol cars that EU motorists prefer.

Hybrid vehicles are now the number-one category of new-car sales, according to ACEA, representing 35.2% of new car sales so far in 2025 and “remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers”.

Petrol and hybrid cars together make up more than 71% of new cars. These vehicles will be on the roads for a long time, and the most immediate and cost-effective way to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions is with renewable ethanol.

While sales of battery-electric vehicles increased for the first time in months, they still represent just 15% of new EU car registrations.

The need for a more flexible and pragmatic EU approach to de-fossilising road transport has never been clearer. Even beyond 2035, renewable fuels such as ethanol have an important role to play.