European Car Registrations Up 1.7% in February

New car registrations across Europe rose 1.7 percent in February compared to the previous year, reaching 979,321 units, as demand for electric vehicles gained traction amid new subsidies and a wider selection of affordable models, according to data released Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

The increase followed a decline in January and marked a modest recovery for the overall passenger car market, which includes the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association countries. Sales grew in key markets such as Germany, up 3.8 percent; Spain; Italy, which saw a 14 percent jump; and the United Kingdom. These gains offset a nearly 15 percent drop in France. Within the EU alone, registrations climbed 1.4 percent to 865,437 vehicles.

Electric vehicles were the primary driver of the uptick. Battery-electric vehicle registrations increased 15.8 percent to 190,683 units, while plug-in hybrid sales surged 33 percent to 96,252 units. Hybrid-electric cars also rose, by 10.4 percent to 375,862 units. Together, these electrified powertrains accounted for about two-thirds of total registrations, up from 58.5 percent a year earlier. In contrast,...