# European automotive market trends > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20261012-european-automotive-market-trends > Updated: 2026-10-12T12:15:28.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. European automotive markets are experiencing a significant shift in consumer preferences toward SUVs and automatic transmissions. In Western Europe, specifically France, Italy, and the Netherlands, market data indicates that female drivers are increasingly prioritizing space, comfort, and utility over traditional small city cars. Research shows nearly 40 percent of women filtering by body type select SUVs, with popular models including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Nissan Qashqai. Similarly, the used car market in Central Europe, particularly the Czech Republic, is moving away from station wagons and manual transmissions. In the Czech Republic, nearly-new vehicles—defined as up to five years old with under 50,000 km—saw sales rise by nearly 6 percent in the first three quarters of 2026. Within this nearly-new segment, SUVs now account for 49 percent of the market, and 73.5 percent of these vehicles are equipped with automatic gearboxes, a trend linked to the prevalence of electric and hybrid models. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-12: Central European used car market shifts toward SUVs and automatics Consumer trends in Central Europe show a rising preference for nearly-new SUVs and automatic transmissions over traditional models, with experts noting significant long-term savings through used car purchases. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/central-european-used-car-market-shifts-toward-suvs-and-automatics ### 2026-10-12: European automotive trends show rising SUV demand among women European market data shows women are increasingly choosing SUVs and practical hatchbacks over traditional small city cars, while Smart debuts the compact electric Smart #2 in Paris. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-automotive-trends-show-rising-suv-demand-among-women --- Cite as: European automotive market trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20261012-european-automotive-market-trends