Electric cars are gaining ground in Europe - Strong consumer demand is recorded
New car registrations in the EU have increased by 5.7% since the start of the year, with a strong performance in June contributing to a positive first half of 2026. This came against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical headwinds that negatively impact the outlook.
The market continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for a wide range of electric technologies, driven mainly by market support measures. Hybrid-electric vehicles were the most popular powertrain choice among buyers, while battery electric cars reached 20.7%. In addition, plug-in hybrids captured 9.8% of the EU market, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reported.
By June 2026, battery electric cars accounted for 20.7% of the EU market, up from 15.6% a year earlier. Hybrid-electric car registrations captured 37.3% of the market, remaining the preferred choice among consumers. At the same time, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 29.7%, compared to 37.8% a year earlier.
In the first half of 2026, 1,220,890 new battery electric cars were registered, accounting for 20.7% of the EU market. Three of the four largest EU markets, which together accounted for 63% of all battery electric car registrations, saw strong growth: France (+62.9%), Germany (+48%) and Denmark (+41.2%). Belgium also recorded growth (+8.2%), although at a more moderate pace.
Data for the first half of 2026 also showed that new registrations of hybrid-electric cars in the EU rose to 2,198,148 units, supported by growth in Italy (+23%) and Spain (+20.8%), while Germany (+6.9%) and France (+3.2%) also recorded increases. Overall, hybrid-electric models accounted for 37.3% of the total EU market.
By the end of June 2026, petrol car registrations fell by 17.2%, with declines in all major markets. France recorded the largest decline, with sales volumes falling by 34.2%, while other major markets also recorded double-digit declines: Spain (-18.5%), Germany (-18.2%) and Italy (-17.1%).
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