Marta Blázquez Re-elected as Faconauto President: Targeting 1.3M Car Registrations and 40% Electrification
Marta Blázquez re-elected as Faconauto president to revive Spain’s car market with a 1.3 million annual vehicle target—here’s how it could reshape the economy and infrastructure
Spain’s car market is at a crossroads. On June 16, 2026, the General Assembly of Faconauto, the country’s leading association of vehicle dealers, unanimously re-elected Marta Blázquez as president for a final three-year term (2026–2029). Her mission: to push annual vehicle registrations from 1.1 million in 2025 to 1.3 million—a pre-pandemic level—and accelerate electrification to 40% of new sales within three years. The stakes are high. Spain’s fleet is the second-oldest in Europe, according to EU transport data, trailing only Italy, with 14.5 million vehicles averaging 13.2 years old. Blázquez’s plan hinges on legislative backing for a National Vehicle Renewal Plan tied to the Sustainable Mobility Law, but success will depend on overcoming dealer financial pressures, regional infrastructure gaps, and a fragmented political landscape.
Why this matters: A 1.3 million car target isn’t just about sales—it’s about safety, jobs, and Spain’s green transition
Blázquez’s goal of 1.3 million annual registrations isn’t just a commercial ambition. It’s a structural fix for a country where 3.2 million vehicles—nearly 20% of the fleet—are over 20 years old, according to Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE). Older cars emit 40% more CO₂ per kilometer and are three times more likely to fail safety inspections, creating a public health and environmental crisis. “We’re not just talking about selling cars,” Blázquez told delegates. “We’re talking about replacing a dangerous, polluting fleet with modern, connected vehicles that meet EU emissions standards.”
“The renewal of Spain’s vehicle fleet is a national security issue. In Catalonia alone, 12% of all road accidents involve vehicles over 15 years old—many of which lack critical safety features like ABS or electronic stability control.”
The legal and economic hurdles: How Faconauto’s plan could stall—or succeed
Blázquez’s strategy rests on three pillars: legislative approval, dealer profitability, and regional coordination. But each faces obstacles.
| Challenge | Current Status | Potential Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative approval | The Proposition of Law linking the National Vehicle Renewal Plan to the Sustainable Mobility Law is stalled in Congress, with 12% of deputies opposing it on fiscal grounds. | [Lobbying firms specializing in EU transport policy] could help navigate parliamentary resistance by framing the plan as a cost-saving measure—older vehicles cost Spain €3.8 billion annually in healthcare and accident repairs, per AESLE. |
| Dealer profitability | Margins for Spanish dealers have dropped 18% since 2020 due to labor costs and VAT hikes, according to Faconauto’s 2025 sector report. Small independents face 22% higher operational costs than chain dealers. | [Tax optimization consultants for SMEs] are already advising dealers on restructuring to offset losses, while [Automotive supply chain logistics firms] could help reduce inventory costs by optimizing cross-border parts distribution. |
| Regional infrastructure | Only 38% of Spanish municipalities have public charging stations, with Andalusia and Extremadura lagging behind, per Spain’s Transport Ministry. Private charging networks cover just 62% of urban areas. | [Renewable energy infrastructure developers] are positioning to bid on EU grants for fast-charging corridors, while [Municipal smart city planners] can help cities like Seville and Valencia integrate charging into public transport hubs. |
Electrification at 40%: Can Spain hit the target without crushing dealers?
Blázquez’s push for 40% electrification by 2029 is ambitious. In 2025, electric vehicles (EVs) made up just 14.3% of new registrations, trailing Germany (22%) and France (18%), according to ACEA. The bottleneck? Price and infrastructure. The average EV in Spain costs €42,000—30% more than a diesel car—and public charging stations remain sparse outside major cities.
Yet the economics may soon shift. A 2026 report by Red Eléctrica de España projects that EV ownership will become cost-neutral by 2028 when factoring in lower fuel and maintenance costs. “The real question isn’t whether Spain can electrify its fleet,” said Carlos Martín, CEO of Telefónica’s mobility division in an interview with El País. “It’s whether the political will exists to make charging as accessible as gasoline stations.”
“We’ve seen this movie before. In 2010, Spain launched a €1.5 billion subsidy program for EVs—only to see 90% of the budget go unused because the charging network wasn’t ready. This time, the infrastructure must come first.”
The hidden crisis: How Spain’s aging fleet is hurting rural economies
While Madrid and Barcelona dominate headlines, the impact of Spain’s car fleet is most acute in rural areas. In Castilla-La Mancha, for example, 45% of vehicles are over 15 years old, and public transport is sparse. Dealers in regions like La Rioja and Aragón report that older cars contribute to higher insurance premiums and road maintenance costs**, which local governments struggle to absorb.
Faconauto’s push for renewal could revitalize rural dealerships—but only if the government addresses two key issues:
- Subsidies for older vehicle scrappage: Currently, Spain’s scrappage program offers just €2,500 per vehicle—far below the €5,000–€7,000 needed to offset the cost of a new EV.
- Regional charging incentives: Autonomous communities like Extremadura and Murcia have no public charging stations outside provincial capitals. Faconauto is lobbying for €500 million in EU cohesion funds to deploy fast-charging hubs in these areas.
For rural dealers, the stakes are personal. In Teruel, where the average income is €18,000—28% below the national average—many families rely on older cars for work. “We can’t compete with Madrid or Barcelona,” said Javier López, president of the Aconca dealer association in Aragón. “But if the government gives us the tools, we can keep our communities mobile.”
What happens next: The 6-month timeline for Faconauto’s plan
The bigger picture: How this affects Spain’s global competitiveness
Spain’s car market isn’t just about domestic sales. It’s a barometer for the country’s industrial future. The automotive sector employs 450,000 people—3% of Spain’s workforce—and generates €38 billion annually, per ANFAC. If Faconauto’s plan succeeds, Spain could:
- Attract more EV manufacturers, like BYD and Tesla, which are eyeing Spain for new gigafactories.
- Reduce its trade deficit in vehicles, which ran at €12.4 billion in 2025.
- Strengthen its position in EU green funding, securing billions for smart mobility projects.
But failure could trigger a deindustrialization spiral. “If Spain doesn’t modernize its fleet, it risks becoming a backward outpost in Europe’s green transition,” warns Ignacio Fernández, CEO of SEAT. “The difference between 1.1 million and 1.3 million cars isn’t just numbers—it’s the difference between leading or lagging in the next decade.”
With the legislative and infrastructure hurdles ahead, here’s who can help:
- [EU Transport Policy Lobbyists] to navigate the Sustainable Mobility Law and secure parliamentary backing for scrappage subsidies.
- [Renewable Energy Infrastructure Developers] to deploy fast-charging networks in rural areas like Extremadura and Murcia.
- [Automotive Supply Chain Logistics Firms] to optimize parts distribution and reduce dealer inventory costs.
- [Tax Optimization Consultants for SMEs] to advise dealers on restructuring and offsetting labor cost pressures.
- [Municipal Smart City Planners] to integrate charging stations into public transport hubs in cities like Seville and Valencia.
Marta Blázquez’s re-election isn’t just about cars. It’s about whether Spain can rewrite its economic story in an era where mobility defines prosperity. The next three years will determine if the country’s dealerships become the engines of a green recovery—or if they’re left stranded on the wrong side of history. One thing is certain: the road ahead won’t be smooth. But for the first time in a decade, Spain has a clear map—and the will to follow it.