Car dealers in the Canaries posted a better-than-expected month of May, which saw sales rise across the board despite the uncertainty shrouding the economy in the wake of the tariff war between Europe and the United States.
Figures just released by the Canarian association of car dealers and importers (Fredica) reveal that last month saw 6600 vehicles of all kinds sold last month, a 5% increase on the figure for May 2024. The total for the year so far stands at nearly 31,000, a year-on-year rise of over 7%.
The booming tourism sector in the Canaries was partly responsible for the growth in sales, with car hire firms purchasing 23% more vehicles than in May 2024 and sales to this segment increasing by 50% this year already.
Of particular interest in terms of trends is the major increase in sales of new electric vehicles and hybrids, which appear to have found considerable favour among users this year.
Whereas petrol car sales fell by 3% May (down 5% so far in 2025) and diesels saw falls of up to 30% in the first five months of the year, cleaner energy vehicles have flourished in showrooms.
According to Fredica, over half (51.3%) of all vehicles sold in the Canaries in May were either electric or hybrid, a result that will certainly cheer the Canarian government in its drive to cut emissions and combat climate change. In total, 2256 ‘cleaner’ vehicles were sold compared to 1983 petrol-engine vehicles and just 152 diesels.
The jump in sales is attributed largely to the decision by the Canarian government to extend its grants of several thousand euros for the purchase of electric vehicles until the end of June, under its MOVES III scheme.
However, the spectacular growth in sales of electric vehicles is expected to fuel calls for a significant increase in charging stations across the islands to cater for the rise in demand.
A recent study by Spain’s leading consumer organisation, OCU, shows that the Canaries – with just 175 charging stations offering fast speeds of 150KW – are in the bottom five of Spanish regions for facilities for electric vehicles.
