Swiss car market requires course correction

The new car market in Switzerland and Liechtenstein has recorded its worst start to the year in two decades. With 52,690 vehicles registered in the first quarter of 2025, a decline of 7.9% compared to the previous year. The 21,690 cars sold in March marked a five-year low. The culprit is CO2 regulations, perceived as over-regulation that is crippling the sector.

Peter Grünenfelder, president of auto-suisse, criticizes this regulatory pressure. He calls for harmonization with European standards to avoid job losses. Thomas Rücker highlights the dangers of retroactive application of rules, believing that clarifying standards is essential to revive the market.