The key facts
- In September, EU electric car sales rose 72.9% to 290,117 units, with the overall market up 9.3% to 971,048 units
- Petrol (-23.4%) and diesel (-29.6%) lost demand sharply; hybrids remain the market leader with a 36.3% share over nine months
- From January to September, electric cars took 22.7% of the market (1.93 million units) versus 16.1% a year earlier
Sharp Rise of Electric Cars in September
Sales of new battery electric cars in the European Union rose 72.9% year-on-year to 290,117 units in September, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said on Thursday. The overall new passenger car market, measured by registrations, grew 9.3% to 971,048 units, with electric cars being the main driver of growth.
Growth by Country
In France, electric car registrations more than doubled, adding 107.5%; in Germany growth was 94.7%, in Spain 71.7%, and in Italy 47.3%. Hybrid registrations in September rose 7.3% to 330,693 units, and plug-in hybrids rose 11.7% to 102,267 units. At the same time, petrol car sales fell 23.4% and diesel sales fell 29.6%.
Nine-Month Results
Over the first nine months of 2026, electric car registrations in the EU grew 48.5% to 1.93 million units, raising their market share from 16.1% to 22.7%. This made electric cars the second most popular powertrain type after hybrids. In Germany, 604,144 electric cars were registered over this period (+58.1%), in France 387,342 (+79.1%), in Belgium 125,220 (+15.7%), and in Denmark 124,049 (+40.3%).
Hybrids Retain Leadership
Hybrid cars, including full and mild hybrids, remained the most popular choice of European buyers: their registrations grew 10.7% to 3.09 million units, and their market share reached 36.3%. Plug-in hybrid sales increased 18.6% to 860,257 units (a 10.1% share versus 9% a year earlier), helped by growth of 72.4% in Italy, 34.7% in Spain and 13.7% in Germany.
Decline of Classic Engines and the Overall Market
Petrol car registrations over nine months fell 19.1% to 1.8 million units, with their share declining from 27.7% to 21.2%. Diesel sales fell 19.5% to 602,206 units, with the share shrinking from 9.3% to 7.1%. Overall, the EU new passenger car market expanded 5.7% to 8.52 million units. According to ACEA, demand for electrified vehicles remains high despite rising energy prices and geopolitical challenges — it is supported by incentive measures and an expanding model range.
Data for the Entire Region
Across the EU, the European Free Trade Association and the UK combined, electric car registrations in September rose 59.9% to 416,433 units, and over nine months they grew 41.9% to 2.55 million units.
