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The global automotive market continues to demonstrate a confident shift toward clean transportation, as evidenced by record sales of electric and hybrid vehicles achieved in September, when the total number of units sold exceeded two million, one hundred thousand, a 26 percent increase from the same period last year. The regional structure of this growth is markedly asymmetrical, with the Chinese market leading the way, accounting for over one million, three hundred thousand vehicles, while European countries accounted for four hundred and twenty-seven thousand, five hundred and forty-one units, and North America for approximately two hundred and fifteen thousand vehicles. This dynamic was largely driven by existing government support programs, as buyers in China sought to take advantage of trade-in subsidies before they were phased out in certain provinces. In the United States, the federal tax credit of seven thousand, five hundred dollars had a significant impact, continuing to motivate consumers.
Meanwhile, the European market reached its own historical high, fueled by a comprehensive system of financial incentives for manufacturers and end consumers, particularly active in Germany, and by consistently strong domestic demand in the UK, where charging infrastructure is rapidly developing. Industry analysts are highlighting the upcoming launch of the Tesla Model Y in Europe in their upcoming forecasts, which is likely to intensify competition in this segment and could lead to a redistribution of market share among the major players. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian automotive market is demonstrating an even more pronounced trend: for the first time in recorded history, fully electric models have become the most popular new models, accounting for a third of all new car sales in September, compared to barely fifteen point three percent a year earlier.
There is a clear and rather sharp decline in the share of vehicles with conventional engines, which accounted for only about forty-seven percent of the new passenger car market in the past reporting period, compared to almost sixty-three percent in September of last year, representing a decline of sixteen percentage points over the twelve months. In particular, gasoline powertrains, which ranked second overall, decreased their share from 36.8 percent to 31.2 percent, while diesel engines experienced a complete collapse from 26.0 percent to 15.3 percent. Hybrid vehicles maintained a relatively stable position with 20.3 percent of the market, down from 21.5 percent a year ago, while liquefied gas vehicles continued to fail to break the psychologically important barrier of 1 percent of total sales.
The top sellers in their categories were as follows: the VOLKSWAGEN ID.UNYX retained its lead in the electric vehicle segment, while the HYUNDAI Tucson was the most popular among gasoline vehicles. The TOYOTA RAV-4 was the hybrid bestseller, while the RENAULT Duster led the diesel segment, and the HYUNDAI Tucson once again earned a spot in the CNG segment. International consumer sentiment studies, however, point to certain issues in the area of electric vehicle owner satisfaction, as nearly half of drivers surveyed in the US and Australia expressed regret about their purchase and stated a high likelihood of returning to internal combustion engine vehicles the next time they replace their vehicle.
The overall picture globally appears less dramatic, as only 29 percent of respondents worldwide are inclined to make such a move. This doesn't negate the significant technical and infrastructural challenges facing manufacturers. Major companies are already facing widespread quality issues, as evidenced by Tesla's recent decision to recall millions of vehicles worldwide, including in the US and China, to address defects in the steering/door locking system and incorrect display of warning lights on the dashboard. This potentially increases the risk of road accidents and requires the industry to pay increased attention to product reliability and safety.