Revenue decline in the automotive and motorcycle industry in the second quarter less severe

The largest revenue decline in the automotive and motorcycle industry in the second quarter of 2025 was in heavier commercial vehicles. In this sub-sector, revenue was 3.7 percent lower than a year earlier. Importers showed a revenue decline of 3.2 percent. In the largest sub-market, the trade and repair of passenger cars, revenue decreased by 1.4 percent.

The largest revenue increase was achieved in the trade and repair of motorcycles. This season-sensitive sub-market increased by 5.0 percent.

2024

% change compared to a year earlier

Decline in sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles

The sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (-17 percent) and those of heavier commercial vehicles (-20 percent) were lower in the second quarter than a year earlier. This is the second consecutive quarter of declining sales.

In the last quarter of 2024, the sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles still increased by 65 percent. For heavier commercial vehicles, there was then a substantial doubling of sales.

Decline in 2025 follows higher sales at the end of 2024

The decline in sales in the first quarters of 2025 follows a strong increase in the number of new passenger cars and commercial vehicles sold in the last quarter of 2024. This occurred partly in anticipation of the change in the bpm (tax on passenger cars and motorcycles). The bpm must be paid upon the purchase of new passenger cars, vans, or motorcycles. Until January 1, 2025, fully electric cars were exempt from this tax. Consumers could therefore still benefit from favorable rules in the last quarter of 2024.

Heavy commercial vehicles

% change compared to a year earlier

Entrepreneur confidence less negative in the third quarter

Entrepreneurs in the automotive and motorcycle industry had slightly more confidence at the beginning of the third quarter of 2025. The entrepreneur confidence was still negative (-5.2). At the beginning of the second quarter of 2025, this was even lower (-8.8).

Entrepreneurs in the automotive and motorcycle industry have less confidence than entrepreneurs in other sectors. At the beginning of the third quarter of 2025, the entrepreneur confidence across all sectors was -3.8.

More labor market tightness in the automotive and motorcycle industry

The tightness in the labor market in the automotive and motorcycle industry has increased. At the beginning of the third quarter of 2025, 57.1 percent of entrepreneurs indicated a shortage of labor. At the beginning of the second quarter, this was 42.5 percent.

The number of vacancies has decreased slightly. In the second quarter, there were 7.2 thousand vacancies. In the first quarter of 2025, there were 8 thousand.

Refueling time ☕

Openrijk navigates piles of government news daily. Your coffee helps us stay on course.

Buy us a coffee ❤️

Share this article

Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek