European drivers continue to leave combustion-engine cars behind. Over the first five months of 2026, the EU car market grew by 4%, while the EV share reached 20% for the first time, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reported.
Electric car popularity
From January to May 2026, around 950,500 new electric cars were registered. Their share of the market rose to 20% from 15.3% a year earlier. In other words, every fifth new car sold in the EU is battery-electric.
The strongest surge in demand was recorded in:
- Italy (+75.7%);
- France (+55.4%);
- Germany (+40.9%).
Hybrid cars take the lead
Despite the rapid growth in battery-electric car sales, hybrids remained Europe’s most popular type of passenger car. Over the reported period, almost 1.8 million hybrid cars were sold, bringing their market share to 37.8%. The main contributors were Italy, Spain, Germany and France.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have also been gaining momentum. From January to May, their sales increased to around 460,200 vehicles, while their market share rose from 8.3% to 9.7%.
Gasoline and diesel cars lose momentum
Gasoline car sales decreased by 18.2%, with the steepest declines recorded in:
- France (-36.8%);
- Spain (-20.3%);
- Germany (-18.5%);
- Italy (-17.3%).
As a result, gasoline cars’ share of the market fell from 28.5% to 22.4%.
Diesel-powered cars also continue to lose popularity. Their sales dropped by 16.6%, while their market share declined to 7.6%, down from 9.5% a year earlier.
Combined, battery-electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles now account for nearly 68% of the new passenger car market across the EU. In other words, almost two out of every three new cars sold in the EU are electrified vehicles.
