New car registrations in the European Union rose by 4% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Among the notable trends is the growing popularity of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), which now hold 20% of the EU market.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Gain Ground
Battery-electric cars accounted for 950,521 registrations from January to May 2026, up from 15.3% market share in 2025. This surge was led by strong growth in Italy (+75.7%), France (+55.4%), and Germany (+40.9%), which together make up 63% of all BEV registrations. Belgium’s growth was more modest at +2.8%.
Hybrid-electric vehicles remain the most popular option, capturing 37.8% of new registrations in the same period. Italy and Spain saw notable increases in hybrid registrations (+24.5% and +19.5%, respectively), while Germany and France contributed smaller gains.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also grew, with 460,217 units registered, representing 9.7% of the market, up from 8.3% in 2025. Italy (+84.9%), Spain (+46.5%), and Germany (+16.1%) led the rise in PHEV sales.
Decline in Petrol and Diesel Registrations
Registrations of petrol cars dropped sharply by 18.2% during the same period. France experienced the largest fall at 36.8%, followed by Spain (-20.3%), Germany (-18.5%), and Italy (-17.3%). This lowered petrol’s market share to 22.4%, down from 28.5% in May 2025.
Diesel cars continued to lose ground as well, with registrations declining by 16.6%, now making up 7.6% of new cars, compared to 9.5% a year earlier.
EU Auto Industry Overview
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents many major carmakers in Europe, including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, and others. The automotive sector employs 13.5 million people in Europe and contributes significantly to the economy through jobs, tax revenue, and research investments.
More detailed figures and updates on EU car registrations will be available as the year progresses, highlighting ongoing shifts toward electric and hybrid vehicles.
Source: acea.auto