The standout performer is the fully electric vehicle segment. Battery-electric vehicles reached a 19.7% market share, up from 15.3% in the same period last year. In total, 746,899 units were registered, confirming that one in five new cars sold in the EU is now fully electric.

Growth has not been uniform but is highly significant in the largest markets. Italy led the expansion with a remarkable +73.1%, followed by France (+48.2%) and Germany (+41.3%). These three countries together account for around two-thirds of all battery-electric car registrations in the EU, reinforcing their role as key drivers of the transition.

Hybrids dominate, but battery-electric cars continue to gain ground

Despite the rise of fully electric cars, hybrid vehicles remain the dominant technology in the European market. In the first four months of 2026, hybrid-electric cars accounted for 38.2% of total registrations, maintaining their position as the preferred choice for many consumers seeking a gradual transition.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also continued their strong growth, reaching a 9.6% market share with 364,067 units registered. Italy (+99.2%), Spain (+64.3%), and Germany (+17.6%) were among the fastest-growing markets, highlighting the increasing relevance of this transitional technology across Europe.

Spain accelerates in electrification

Spain reflects this trend clearly. Hybrid registrations grew by 19.7%, while plug-in hybrids surged by 64.3%, placing the country among the most dynamic EU markets in terms of electrified vehicle adoption. This growth aligns with expanding public incentives and the gradual improvement of charging infrastructure.

Steady decline of combustion engines

In contrast, petrol and diesel vehicles continue their rapid decline. Petrol registrations fell by 17.7%, reducing their market share to 22.5% (down from 28.5% a year earlier). Diesel also continued its downward trend, declining by 16.1% and accounting for just 7.7% of total registrations.

The decline was particularly sharp in major markets such as France (-36.6%), Spain (-18.6%), Italy (-18%), and Germany (-17.2%), underscoring the broad-based retreat of internal combustion engines across Europe.

A structural market transition

Overall, the data from the ACEA confirms that the European automotive market is undergoing a structural transformation: battery-electric vehicles are steadily increasing their share, hybrids dominate as the main transitional technology, and traditional combustion engines are in rapid decline.

Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the momentum behind electrification—supported by policy incentives and shifting consumer demand—is reshaping the future of mobility in Europe.