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Sales of electric vehicles in Spain plummeted in January 2026, registering 7,398 units – the lowest level in the past year, according to data obtained by this newspaper. The sharp decline comes amid uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the government’s recent ‘Auto+’ plan, designed to incentivize electric vehicle purchases.
The downturn follows a more robust 2025, bolstered by the ‘Moves III’ plan, although sales consistently fell short of government projections. In June 2025, 12,925 purely electric vehicles were registered, marking the highest monthly figure of the year, according to the Spanish Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Anfac). Sales remained above 10,000 units monthly, excluding August, a significant detail given that hybrid vehicles – which produce emissions – consistently outsell their fully electric counterparts.
Sources within the automotive sector, speaking on background, confirmed a direct correlation between the lack of clear government support and the drop in sales. Concerns center on the timing of the ‘Auto+’ plan’s rollout and its specific details. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition had previously indicated in its energy plan that subsidies would not be necessary by 2026, anticipating price parity between electric and combustion engine vehicles.
However, this expectation has not fully materialized. While some electric vehicle models have reached price parity, the average cost remains higher. The Ministry of Industry, recognizing the importance of the automotive sector and its employment base, acknowledges that sales would suffer without continued incentives, leading to the development of the ‘Auto+’ plan.
José López-Tafall, Director General of Anfac, publicly stated the need to reinstate support measures. “To maintain the electrification rate of 2025, we must recover many of the tools we had last year that boosted the market,” he said, according to a statement released by the organization. Anfac is urging the swift implementation of ‘Auto+’ and the reinstatement of a 15% income tax deduction for electric vehicle purchases, emphasizing the need to provide certainty to consumers.
Alongside the subsidy concerns, Spain’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure is facing scrutiny. As of February 1, 2026, the country has 49,450 operational public charging points, a slight decrease of 1.1% compared to December 31, 2025, according to data from Aedive, the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility. While the number of high-power direct current (DC) fast chargers is growing, the overall volume of infrastructure remains low compared to other European nations.
The situation highlights a divergence between the industry’s needs, as articulated by Anfac, and the Ecological Transition Ministry’s previous projections outlined in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (Pniec). The plan had anticipated the phasing out of direct subsidies by 2026, a position that now appears increasingly at odds with the current market realities.
