The car market in Spain shows continued improvement after the disruption caused by the pandemic and the ongoing semiconductor and components shortage that has affected the industry since 2020. Recent sales data for passenger cars and SUVs demonstrate a clear rebound, with a notable increase in March. According to ANFAC, the association’s figures point to a rise of roughly 66.1 percent compared with March 2022, reaching 99,524 units sold in that month.
March 2022 marked a particularly weak period, yet ANFAC clarified that last month’s results helped accumulate a more positive yearly trend. The sales surge is especially visible in the retail and corporate channels. While expectations once flirted with the 100,000-unit mark in March, the year-over-year figure still shows a 19 percent drop versus the same month in 2019. Nevertheless, the year-to-date total stands at 237,563 units, representing a 44.5 percent increase over 2022 and signaling stronger momentum in the national market.
Channel-wise performance highlights that individuals rose by 36 percent in March to 36,061 units, while business buyers improved by 44.8 percent to 38,656 units. The fleet sector, including lease companies, soared by 269.4 percent to 24,807 units. Felix Garcia, ANFAC’s director of communications and marketing, acknowledged the positive data but cautioned that consumer demand remains below 2019 levels. He noted persistent reluctance among individuals to purchase more than 15,000 vehicles per month compared with pre-pandemic levels, driven by uncertainty over how and where specialty vehicles are used. He emphasized that electric and low-emission vehicles are part of the solution toward decarbonization, not a problem to be avoided.
In the commercial vehicle segment, March registered 13,434 sales, a 39.4 percent rise, lifting the first-quarter total to 34,163, a 31.2 percent increase. Industrial vehicles and buses contributed 3,021 units, up 34.6 percent, helping the quarterly total reach 7,946 registrations with a 21.2 percent gain in the segment.
Arona Drives Seat
Fuel mix has shifted, with gasoline reclaiming some share after a dip in market demand. In March, 45.2 percent of sold cars ran on gasoline, 40.9 percent relied on alternative powertrains, and 13.9 percent were diesel. After three months of 2023, alternative propulsion accounted for 43.3 percent of the market, gasoline for 43.1 percent, and diesel for 13.6 percent.
These figures correlate with the fleet’s average emissions, which stood at 119.8 grams of CO2 per kilometer in March, a slight 0.28 percent year-over-year improvement. On a quarterly basis, the average emission rate reached 119.1 grams per kilometer, a 0.34 percent reduction compared with the same period in 2022. This trend underscores ongoing efficiency gains across the market as electrified and low-emission options gain traction.
Top-selling models and brands for March highlight the Arona rising to the top slot with 3,324 units, accumulating 7,504 in the year to date and cementing its status as the best-selling model so far this year. The Dacia Sandero followed with 6,595 units, and the Toyota CH-R tallied 6,459 units, confirming the popularity of compact crossovers. The Toyota SUV also ranked second in March with 2,943 units, while the Opel Corsa closed the podium in March with 2,553 units.
Looking at brand performance overall, Toyota continues to lead in sales for the year with 20,749 units, and remains the most sought-after brand in March with 8,083 units. Peugeot moved into a strong third place with 8,016 units, and Seat recorded 7,594. The year-to-date standings show the same brands occupying the top three positions, with Seat in second place with 18,040 units and Peugeot in third with 17,737 units overall. These patterns reflect ongoing consumer preferences for practicality, efficiency, and reliable performance across the market.
Across the market, the broader picture suggests a recovery that blends renewed consumer confidence with ongoing adjustments in fleets and business procurement. As supply constraints ease and consumers increasingly consider hybrid and electric options, the mix of vehicles on the road continues to evolve. Analysts and industry observers highlight the importance of transparent, consistent data to monitor ongoing shifts in demand, pricing, and total cost of ownership—factors that can influence both consumer choices and corporate purchasing strategies in the months ahead. In this environment, the market remains attentive to policy developments, technological advances, and macroeconomic cues that shape the pace of recovery and the path toward a more sustainable mobility landscape.