Dutch Auto Market in 2026 takes a dip. YTD sales up to February dropped by 16.7% with BMW and Volvo reporting the sharpest losses. Skoda and Renault on the other hand managed to defy the trend and rise. EV sales plunged with all leading brands contracting.
Economic Environment
The Dutch economy is expected to grow 1.3% in 2026 and 1.3% in 2027, following an estimated 1.7% expansion in 2025, according to research by Rabobank. Growth over the next two years will mainly be supported by rising household consumption and increased government spending, particularly linked to an aging population and higher defense budgets. Consumer spending is projected to remain the main engine of expansion as improving purchasing power and wage growth outpace inflation. Business investment is also expected to recover modestly after recent declines, helped by relatively stable interest rates and gradual improvements in the investment climate.
However, overall economic growth is expected to remain slightly below the country’s potential due to structural constraints such as an overloaded electricity grid and limits on nitrogen emissions that restrict new development. International trade is likely to weigh somewhat on growth as global trade barriers rise and broader trends toward supply-chain resilience and strategic autonomy reduce the pace of globalization. The labor market is expected to soften slightly, with unemployment rising from 3.9% in 2025 to 4.1% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027, mainly because labor force growth is outpacing job creation. Meanwhile, inflation is projected to gradually decline from 3.0% in 2025 to around 2.0% by 2027, helping stabilize purchasing power and supporting overall economic well-being.
Automotive Industry Trend and Outlook
The dutch car market struggles in the early months of 2026 after reporting a mild recovery from 2025 year-long contraction. In particular, YTD sales up to February dropped by 16.7% to 50,180 units.
Brand-wise, Kia ranked 1st with a share of 9.1% (-40.2%), followed by Volkswagen in 2nd with a 7.6% share (-10.5%), Toyota -up 3 spots- in 3rd with a share of 7.1% (-5.1%) and Skoda –up 5 spots- in 4th (+22.2%).
Hyundai ranked 5th (-12.9%), followed by BMW -down 2 spots- in 6th (-22.8%) and Renault -up 4 spots- in 7th (+1.3%).
Peugeot -down 1 spot- ranked 8th (-19.6%), in front of Volvo -down 6 spots- in 9th (-35.4%) and Audi -down 2 spots- in 10th (-12.4%).
Looking at specific models, reported in the dedicated article, the Toyota Aygo X became the new best seller growing 36% into 1st, followed by the Toyota Yaris in 2nd and the Skoda Kodiaq in 3rd.
EV Market Trend and Outlook
The Dutch EV segment falls short of 2025 figures, with only about 21.7% of registrations up to February 2026 being EVs. While a delay effect linked to Q4 uptake in 2025 could partially explain this plunge of sales, the trend in the following months will hinge on several other factors.
For example, supply chain disruptions could emerge in 2026 following Nexperia’s dispute with China.
Kia was still the leader with 13.8% of the segment despite falling 53.2%. Volvo followed in 2nd with 9.6% (-26.4%) while Volkswagen fell 29.1% in 3rd.
Medium-Term Market Trend
At the start of the 2014–2024 decade, the Dutch car market gained momentum, peaking in 2015 at 447,649 units. It then stabilized around 400,000, with 14.86% growth from 2014 to 2019, driven by a strong economy, favorable tax incentives, and high consumer confidence.
The pandemic disrupted global markets, and the Dutch market was no exception, dropping 20.2% in 2020 and hitting a decade low in 2022 at 311,000 registrations, 30.4% below the 2015 peak. The decline continued until 2023, when the market rebounded with 18.6% growth, supported by easing supply chain issues, pent-up demand, and corporate fleet renewals. This momentum continued in 2024 with 381,166 units sold, up 3.2%.
Though Europe, especially Germany, is a major EV manufacturing hub, production costs remain high for many consumers, with new BEVs averaging €55,821. Raw material shortages and expensive microchips are pushing up prices and wait times, steering lower-income buyers toward the secondhand market.
The EV sector started strong early in the decade, fluctuated, then surged 141% in 2019 due to CO₂ rules, subsidies, and a rush to beat tax changes. Another growth wave followed in 2023, with EV sales up 27.2% thanks to broader model availability, better charging infrastructure, and strong corporate demand tied to sustainability goals.
Tables with sales figures
In the tables below we report sales for all Brands, top 10 Manufacturers Group and top 10 Models
