BEV registrations surge 52% as European new car market grows

Battery electric vehicle registrations increased by more than 50% across Europe in August, helping the new car market record another month of growth, according to the latest data from JATO Dynamics.

European new car registrations rose 5.2% year-on-year to 828,402 units during the month, with BEVs achieving their highest August volume on record.

BEV registrations jumped 52.2% to 242,425 units, increasing their share of the market from 20.2% in August 2025 to 29.3% this year. Fully electric cars consequently outsold conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles during the month.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations also grew strongly, increasing 13.8% to 94,474 units, while hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) registrations rose 6.5% to 104,919.

Mild hybrid registrations increased 1.0% to 174,116 units, while conventional ICE registrations fell 23.4% to 200,428 units, leaving petrol and diesel models with a combined 24.2% market share.

“August felt like another milestone month for Europe’s EV transition. BEVs didn’t just grow, they pulled further away from combustion cars and came close to capturing one-third of the market.

“What’s particularly striking is that this momentum is no longer coming from a handful of trailblazers. From established European brands to ambitious newcomers, the race is now fully electric, and it’s accelerating.”

Volkswagen leads European registrations

Volkswagen remained the largest brand in Europe during August, recording 82,576 registrations despite volumes falling 4.2% year-on-year.

Toyota followed with 56,192 registrations, up 2.8%, while Skoda recorded 54,029 units, an increase of 5.4%.

BMW registrations grew 2.0% to 52,479 units, supported by demand for electric models including the iX1 and iX3, while Mercedes-Benz increased registrations by 5.8% to 48,226.

Kia recorded the strongest growth among the ten most-registered brands, with volumes increasing 16.9% to 36,765 units. JATO said new electric models including the EV2, EV3, EV4 and EV5 were helping to strengthen the manufacturer’s European position.

Chinese-owned manufacturers also continued to increase their presence, with combined registrations rising 76% year-on-year to 37,809 units. Growth was driven by brands including BYD, XPENG, MG, Zeekr, Jaecoo and Omoda.

Electric models gain ground

Volkswagen occupied three of the four leading positions in August’s model rankings, with the T-Roc taking the top spot ahead of the Dacia Sandero, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Tesla Model Y ranked sixth overall and was the highest-placed BEV.

Other strongly performing electric models included the Skoda Elroq, BMW iX1, BMW iX3 and Volkswagen ID.4, with each recording more than 6,000 registrations during August.

Newer electric models including the Renault 5, Kia EV2, Cupra Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo also contributed to BEV market growth.

Performance varied across individual European markets, with Germany remaining the region’s largest new car market. Great Britain and Poland were among the strongest performers, with registrations in both markets increasing by 12%, while Belgium and the Netherlands recorded declines.

Northern and Western European markets continued to lead BEV adoption, while hybrid vehicles remained more prominent across Southern and Eastern Europe. Electrified vehicles, however, were the main source of new car market growth across the majority of Europe’s largest markets.