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63% of young Spaniards under 30 consider that their car is essential in their everyday life

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The Cetelem Observatory has published the Europe Automotive Study 2025, which analyses the relationship between young people and mobility and the automobile in 10 European countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Portugal), as well as in China, the United States, Japan and Turkey.

Contrary to what one might initially think, young people are not disconnected from the car, but quite the opposite. As soon as they are legally allowed to do so, they are eager to get behind the wheel. Thus, a driving licence becomes an early necessity. In Spain, 38% of drivers obtained their driving licence at the age of 18, two points higher than the European average. Another 27% obtained it between the ages of 19 and 20, the same percentage as the European average; and 23% between the ages of 21 and 25, compared to 20% in Europe. Only 12% say they obtained their driving licence at the age of over 25.

Buying the first car

Half of young Europeans under 20 years of age living in cities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants already own a vehicle.

However, financial constraints for young people when it comes to buying a vehicle remain strong. 6 out of 10 Europeans aged between 18 and 29 consider the price of a car to be too expensive. For this reason, 59% of Europeans under 30 buy their first used car, compared to 41% who buy a new one. In the case of Spain, it stands out above the European average in buying a new car as a first vehicle, with 56% of the mentions.

The average price in Europe for buying a first car is €13,985. Spain is above the average with an average cost of €15,625.

As for motorisation, petrol cars are the preferred choice for young Europeans, followed by electric and diesel cars.

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The image of the car improves

According to the study, 7 out of 10 young Europeans say they enjoy driving. In addition, 1 in 2 people under 30 believe that their image of cars has improved over the last five years. Only 14% say it has deteriorated. It also highlights that this improvement in the image of cars is greater in cities than in rural areas, due to the growing importance of electric and hybrid cars in urban environments.

Young people are committed to mobility

For 6 out of 10 European drivers under 30, living their whole life without a car is unimaginable. French and Americans are the most reluctant to the idea of ​​living without a car, while Turks, Poles and Chinese are more receptive.

However, the car is not everything, young people are considering different ways of getting around. Thus, we see that the use of the bicycle as a means of transport has gained ground for 7 out of 10 young people. The Netherlands and Poland are the countries that are most receptive to travelling by bicycle, while Portugal, the United States and the United Kingdom are the most reluctant.

Among the alternative means of transport used by young people, car sharing comes in second place, with 50% of young people stating that they use it.

Among young people who have at least one vehicle in their home, 57% say they also travel on foot on a daily basis, followed by 52% who use public transport.

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In addition, 8 out of 10 young people also say that a car is essential for their daily life.

Safety, freedom and practicality are the three qualities of the car that young people most value.

Purchasing criteria

Rationality prevails when it comes to purchasing criteria. 45% of drivers under 30 consider price as the main factor when buying a car. However, this criterion is less important for them compared to older drivers, with a difference of almost 10 points. Both generations point to safety as the second most important purchasing criterion.

In addition, 9 out of 10 young drivers consider the information provided by brands important before making a decision.

The environmental image of the car

Almost half of young people consider cars to be the main cause of climate change. Cars are also cited as the main source of pollution in cities, especially among young people, with 64% of mentions.

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It is also worth noting that 52% of drivers under 30 consider that the environmental measures imposed on cars and their use are sufficient, compared to 24% who consider them insufficient. 13%, on the other hand, believe that they are excessive.

The electric car, synonymous with progress

84% of young people say that technological advances will improve the environmental impact of cars. This is a point of view shared by all generations. In addition, 1 in 2 young people see electric cars as a more environmentally friendly means of transport, compared to 1 in 4 of those over 50 years of age.

In this sense, young people are enthusiastic about the future of the electric car, with 47% believing that it will be more relevant in the coming years. This contrasts with the opinion of those over 50, who are more cautious about this, with only 30% believing that it will be more relevant. 60% of young people also believe that the electric car will replace combustion cars in the future.

Methodology

The economic and marketing analyses as well as forecasts were carried out in collaboration with the research and consulting company C-Ways.

Fieldwork for the quantitative consumer surveys was conducted by Harris Interactive from June 25 to July 9, 2024 in 14 countries: Belgium, China, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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A total of 16,000 online surveys (CAWI method, 3,000 in France and 1,000 in each of the other countries) were conducted with the general population aged between 18 and 65, with nationally representative samples in each country. The representativeness of the sample is guaranteed by the quota method (sex, age).


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Benidorm to Host UCI CycloCross World Cup

cyclist in a bycicle race

The city of Benidorm will host again the UCI Cyclocross World Cup for the fourth consecutive year in 2026. News has come to light after the Steering Committee of the International Cycling Union revealed the calendar for the 2025-26 edition of the World Cup in the speciality. Thus, the most prestigious cyclocross tournament will stop again in Benidorm on Sunday, January 18th next year. The Benidorm event will be the tenth of twelve that will make up a World Cup and will visit countries such as the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands before arriving in Benidorm. The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, has pointed out that the city receives “with great satisfaction the confirmation from the UCI that the Cyclocross World Cup will return to Benidorm”. Pérez has announced that on January 18th “we will once again enjoy this great event, which is proof of the consolidation of this event that will celebrate its fourth edition, yielding extraordinary results both in the dissemination of the sport itself, because Benidorm is a great attraction in itself, and in the dissemination and promotion beyond cycling in the city and the Benidorm brand”. The mayor reiterated that the City Council “is happy and satisfied” and that “despite being an expected news due to the great solidity of Benidorm’s proposal, we have reasons to celebrate it”. Thus, Benidorm will once again enjoy the presence of the best cyclists in the speciality in 2026, who have put on a great show in the three years that the event has been held in the town.


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Torrevieja Natural History Museum to Reopen

The Councillor for Culture of the Torrevieja City Council, Antonio Quesada, states that from Sunday, March 2, guided tours will resume at the Torrevieja Natural History Museum. This spring, UNED-Torrevieja is financing the implementation of guided tours and scheduled activities for a total of 60 days for educational centres, families, and the general public.

The visits will be accompanied by special activities, both for the knowledge and awareness of its visitors in the biodiversity of species and the environmental education necessary for their conservation .

The museum will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays for students from educational centres and on Sundays and holidays for families and the general public. Visits and activities will be carried out in groups of up to 30 people/group. On Wednesdays and Fridays, visits will be carried out by between one and three groups each morning, adapting the visiting hours to the needs of each educational centre.

On Sundays and holidays, the museum will be open from 10:00 to 13:00 for independent visits, and at 11:00 a.m. there will be a guided tour and activity for families and the general public.


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Renault delivers a fleet of 700 E-Tech full hybrid vehicles ‘Made in Spain’ to Eiffage Energía Sistemas

Renault delivers a fleet of 700 E-Tech full hybrid vehicles

Eiffage Energía Sistemas, a company specialising in electrical infrastructure, installations, maintenance, renewable energy, civil engineering and construction, has added 700 Renault vehicles to its fleet in an operation carried out jointly with the leasing operator Northgate Renting Flexible, a leader in the field of professional mobility.

The delivery of the first units took place at the offices of Eiffage Energía Sistemas, located in Albacete, in an event attended by Eduardo González de la Rocha, commercial and marketing director of Northgate, José Manuel Martínez, CEO and delegate of Eiffage in Spain, and Sébastien Guigues, general manager of Renault and Alpine in Spain.

Commitment to sustainability

The three entities share a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and moving towards more sustainable mobility. For this reason, this fleet of 700 vehicles is made up of hybrid vehicles that significantly reduce emissions in the urban and interurban areas where they will operate. In addition, by having an Eco environmental badge, they allow access and free movement in low-emission zones.

The vehicles chosen are the Renault Captur, Austral, Symbioz and Rafale, all manufactured in Spain and with E-Tech full hybrid engines that respond to the diverse needs of Eiffage Energía Sistemas.

In addition, it is also complemented by 60 units of the New Dacia Duster TCe 130 4×4, a model characterised by its versatility.

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E-Tech full hybrid technology: technological and commercial leadership

Renault’s early commitment to developing a complete range of electric vehicles in 2011 has provided an unbeatable knowledge base for designing its E-Tech full hybrid technology. The knowledge acquired in terms of efficiency and energy management has led the brand to combine 1 combustion engine, 2 electric motors, 1 traction battery and 1 intelligent multi-mode gearbox. Thanks to this, the E-Tech full hybrid range is a benchmark in terms of emissions – 20 g CO 2  lower than its competitors – and low consumption – 1 l/100 km lower -. In addition, this technology allows up to 80% of driving to be done in electric mode in urban environments, resulting in highly enjoyable and efficient driving.

Thanks to this, Renault has positioned itself as the second brand that sells the most hybrids in Spain.


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