A Surprise Surge
LPG- and CNG-powered cars aren’t particularly popular in America, but they do thrive in other markets such as Turkey, Russia, and South Korea. That’s thanks in part to benefits and tax breaks, but also lower emissions and the cost to fill up. With that in mind, there has been a sudden surge in Europe.
Per Automotive News Europe, sales of LPG and CNG cars have risen, with nearly 350,000 sold across Europe last year. It’s a substantial 9.8 percent increase over 2024’s figures, and more automakers and governments are taking notice. Europe isn’t just welcoming these cars; they’re embracing them. Granted, LPG and CNG-powered vehicles have always been offered there, but it seems now more than ever.
The Top-Sellers
Of the nearly 350,000 LPG cars sold in the region, it’s Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Dacia that led sales in 2025. Combined, those brands accounted for a whopping 89 percent of market share last year. If we do the math, that’s about 225,000 units from a single company.
In a very distant second place is Italian company DR Automobiles, which mainly sells Chery models rebadged for select European countries. Its ‘Thermohybrid’ models captured 6.2 percent of the LPG/CNG market. In third was the Hyundai Motor Group, with both Kia and Hyundai taking up 3.8 percent.
As for the best-selling LPG/CNG car in Europe? It’s none other than the Dacia Sandero. In fact, half of Dacia’s LPG and CNG sales were of the Sandero. Good news, indeed.
Italy Leads the LPG Market
Of all the European nations that purchased LPG and CNG cars, Italy bought the most, as it accounted for 41 percent of sales on the continent. It helps that DR Automobiles is present there, and Dacia is a popular brand as well. Oddly enough, Fiat pulled out of that market, but perhaps it’s time for them to reconsider that move.
Spain, France, and Romania are other countries that have been purchasing more of these alternative-powered cars. Again, incentives play a crucial role here, but so does price per fill-up. LPG is about half the price of regular fuel over there, which means big savings in the long run. Tightening emissions regs and ultra-low emissions zones also play a factor, and vehicles factory-fitted with LPG and CNG conversions do not have to pay fees when entering such areas.
It’s highly unlikely that this means of propulsion will reach the same popularity in the U.S. That said, there is still a market for it, primarily for trucks and fleets. Given that, it’s unlikely that LPG and CNG will disappear in a few years.
DR Automobiles
