Car sales in Spain rose 11.7% in March 2026, driven by a surge in electrified and hybrid models. Dacia Sandero led the pack, Toyota topped the brands, and Chinese cars made new gains.
Dacia Sandero kept its spot as Spain’s best-selling car in March. It sold 3,317 units, staying ahead of the competition as electrified cars changed the market.
March 2026 was a big month for Spanish car sales. Passenger car registrations hit 130,340, up 11.7% from a year earlier. Electrified cars—both pure electric and plug-in hybrids—saw a sharp 62% jump. They made up 26,725 registrations, or 20.5% of the market. Data from ANFAC and INDUSTRIA shows this momentum lasted through August 2026. Electrified cars grew 37.9% year-on-year, reaching 21.8% of all new registrations. Hybrids became the biggest segment.
In August 2026, Dacia Sandero maintained its leadership in Spain, accumulating 23,769 registrations for the year to date and confirming a sustained trend rather than a one-off spike.
Private buyers led the way. They registered 51,774 cars, a 17.9% rise that beat both company fleets and rental firms. Businesses followed with a 13.5% increase (37,647 units). Rental companies saw a smaller gain of 3.6%, with 40,919 cars registered.
Looking at the top models, Toyota C-HR (2,913 units) and Peugeot 208 (2,815) followed the Sandero. Toyota Corolla (2,801) and SEAT Ibiza (2,697) rounded out the top five. So far in 2026, Sandero holds the lead. The Romanian-built hatchback is still at the top. Dacia has added the Hybrid 155 version in Spain, starting at €19,890, and the Stepway Hybrid 155 from €21,290. This move matches the rising demand for electrified cars, as reported by Spanish automotive outlets.
Toyota was the top brand in March, delivering 11,930 cars. Volkswagen (8,483), Renault (8,170), SEAT (7,379), and Hyundai (6,958) followed. In the first quarter, Toyota stayed ahead of Renault and Volkswagen, keeping its lead in Spain’s changing market. Data from ANFAC, Faconauto, and Ganvam links Toyota’s lead to the boom in hybrid sales, now the main force in the electrified segment.
Dacia continues to emphasize affordability in Spain by offering Sandero and Stepway models with various powertrains, including the lower-priced Eco-G 120 versions, which remain popular choices amid the shift toward electrification.
Chinese brands are moving in. The MG3 broke into the top ten in March. The MG ZS took tenth place in year-to-date sales. This shift matches the bigger ambitions of Chinese carmakers, as shown in a recent report on Geely’s export push after buying a stake in Ford España. Still, 2026 Spanish market summaries show that while MG and other Chinese brands are gaining ground, they have not overtaken leaders like Dacia and Toyota.
More than 300,000 cars were registered in Spain in the first quarter of 2026, up 7.6% from last year. The market is clearly shifting toward electrified and hybrid cars. The numbers show that buyers want new technology, and brands that adapt fast are winning. For now, Dacia Sandero and Toyota set the pace. But with electrified models rising and Chinese brands entering, the market is changing fast. The top names can’t afford to stand still.
