(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAR 24 - In the first two months of 2026, the European car market fell by 18.3% compared to 2019, returning to pre-crisis levels. According to the Promotor Research Centre, this is "the first goal to be met for the Western European car market to return to normality, as has already occurred in the rest of the world." France experienced the greatest decline compared to the first two months of last year (-11.1%), followed by Germany (-1.4%). However, the other countries in the five largest groups experienced growth (Spain +4.6%, the United Kingdom +4.8%, and Italy +10.2%). The other countries in the five largest groups, on the other hand, expanded (Spain +4.6%, the United Kingdom +4.8%, and Italy +10.2%). Regarding the share of electric cars in the five largest markets, France leads the ranking with a 27.5% share, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, both with 22%, Spain with 9%, and Italy with 7.3%, all achieved with the tailwind of incentives introduced in October. The share of electric vehicles is significantly higher than that of plug-in hybrids, at 19.6% versus 10.1% for plug-ins; however, the growth rate in the first two months of 2026 is 32.6% for plug-ins and 14.8% for electric vehicles. Electric vehicle sales are increasing, owing to models from manufacturers who have only recently made a significant entry into the European car market. "The slowness with which Western European countries have recovered to pre-crisis levels has been influenced by the struggle to achieve the environmental targets set by the EU and also adopted by the United Kingdom, which is no longer a member of the EU but continues to follow its lead down some of the wrong paths," commented President Gian Primo Quagliano. (ANSA).