January 2026 car sales in spain: peugeot 208 takes the crown

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A new leader emerges: peugeot 208 tops january sales

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January 2026 has delivered a surprise in the Spanish automotivemarket! The Peugeot 208 has dethroned the Dacia Sandero, which held the title of best-selling car in Spain for 2023, 2024, and previously January 2025. The Sandero has slipped to sixth place in the latest rankings, signifying a notable shift in consumer preferences. Total new car registrations for January reached 73,103, a 1.1%increase compared to the same period last year.

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Impact of the 'dana' weather event

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It's important to note that January 2025 saw a lower registration count of 3,995 units due to the impact of the ‘DANA’ (Isolated Depression at High Altitude) weather event and subsequent government aid program, ‘Plan Reinicia Auto’. If we exclude the impact of the ‘DANA’, January 2026 would have shown a robust 7% increase in sales compared to January 2025, highlighting the underlying strength of the market.

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Electrified vehicles continue their ascent

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The momentum in the electric vehicle (EV) sector continues unabated. Sales of pure electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 15,212 units in January, a significant 48.3% increase year-over-year. This translates to a market share of 20.8%, further solidifying the transition towards electric mobility in Spain.

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Co2 emissions show positive trends

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Environmental considerations are also playing a role, with the average CO2 emissions of new cars sold in January registering at 103.1 grams per kilometer. This represents an 8.1% reduction compared to the average emissions for new cars sold in January 2025, showcasing a move towards more sustainable vehicles.

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Rental companies drive sales growth

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A key factor in the overall sales increase was the strong performance of rental companies. Sales to rental businesses jumped by an impressive 63.5%, totaling 10,016 units. Conversely, sales to private individuals and businesses experienced declines. Private sales dropped by 6.4% (35,775 units), while sales to companies fell by 42.4% (27,312 units).

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Top 10 best-selling cars in january 2026

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Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 most popular cars in Spain during January 2026:

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• 1. Peugeot 208: 2,055 units
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• 2. Seat Ibiza: 1,904 units
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• 3. Seat Arona: 1,715 units
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• 4. Toyota C-HR: 1,681 units
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• 5. Toyota Corolla: 1,675 units
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• 6. Dacia Sandero: 1,617 units
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• 7. Peugeot 2008: 1,453 units
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• 8. MG ZS: 1,415 units
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• 9. Nissan Qashqai: 1,376 units
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• 10. Toyota Yaris: 1,349 units
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These ten models accounted for over 16,200 units, representing 22% of all sales for the month. The shift to the Peugeot 208 as the leader is a significant development. The Dacia Sandero’s fall from the top spot is also noteworthy.

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Top 10 car brands in spain - january 2026

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Here’s a look at the top-performing car brands in Spain for January 2026:

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Rank	Brand	Units Sold
1	Toyota	7,106
2	Seat	5,011
3	Peugeot	4,705
4	Volkswagen	4,204
5	Mercedes-Benz	3,958
6	Renault	3,889
7	Kia	3,559
8	BMW	3,073
9	Audi	3,019
10	Skoda	2,993

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Toyota continues to dominate the market, significantly outpacing Seat. Premium brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi also maintain a strong presence within the top 10.

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Industry concerns about incentives

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According to Félix García, Director of Communication and Marketing at ANFAC,