Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 20% of all new car registrations in the European Union between January and May 2026, up from 15.3% during the same period last year, according to the latest figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

A total of 950,521 new battery-electric cars were registered across the EU during the first five months of the year, driven by strong growth in major European markets. Italy led the expansion with a 75.7% increase, followed by France (+55.4%) and Germany (+40.9%), while Belgium posted a more modest growth rate of 2.8%.

The rise in electric vehicle registrations comes as the European car market recorded overall growth of 4% year-to-date through May 2026. According to ACEA, demand for electrified powertrains continues to be supported by new and revised tax benefits and incentive schemes across several European countries.

Electrified vehicles account for more than two-thirds of the market

Hybrid-electric vehicles remained the preferred choice among European consumers, with registrations reaching 1.79 million units between January and May and accounting for 37.8% of the total market. Italy (+24.5%) and Spain (+19.5%) were among the main contributors to growth, alongside Germany (+5.4%) and France (+2.2%).

Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) continued to gain market share. Registrations rose to 460,217 units in the first five months of the year, representing 9.7% of the EU market, up from 8.3% in the same period of 2025. Italy (+84.9%), Spain (+46.5%), and Germany (+16.1%) recorded the strongest growth among major markets.

Combined, electrified vehicles — battery-electric, hybrid-electric, and plug-in hybrid models — accounted for 67.5% of all new car registrations in the European Union through May 2026.

Source: ACEA

Petrol and diesel vehicles continue to lose ground

Internal combustion engine vehicles continued to see their market share decline. The combined share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 30.1%, down from 38% a year earlier.

Petrol car registrations dropped by 18.2%, with significant declines across major markets, including France (-36.8%), Spain (-20.3%), Germany (-18.5%), and Italy (-17.3%). With 1.06 million units registered through May, petrol's market share fell from 28.5% to 22.4%.

Diesel vehicles also maintained their downward trend, with registrations declining by 16.6% and their market share falling to 7.6%, compared with 9.5% during the same period in 2025.

The latest registration figures highlight the continued electrification of Europe's passenger car market, with battery-electric vehicles now representing one in every five new cars registered across the European Union.