BEVs surpass 25% of European car market in June

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) captured more than a quarter of the European new car market for the first time this year in June, as registrations surged by more than 50% and the region’s transition away from combustion engine vehicles gathered further pace.

According to the latest figures from JATO Dynamics, Europe’s new car market grew by 13% year-on-year to 1.40 million registrations during June, marking the strongest monthly performance of 2026. Electrified powertrains accounted for the majority of that growth, with BEVs emerging as the market’s fastest-growing segment.

BEV registrations rose 50.7% year-on-year to 359,300 units, lifting their market share to a record 25.7% in June. The result saw battery electric vehicles comfortably overtake mild hybrids (MHEVs) in monthly sales and move within touching distance of combustion-powered vehicles, which accounted for 27% of registrations.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations also recorded strong growth, increasing 24.2% to 146,900 units, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) climbed 24.1% to 185,600 units. Mild hybrid volumes continued to increase, up 12.2% to 311,500 registrations, although JATO said their slower growth suggests they are increasingly becoming a transitional technology rather than the primary route towards electrification.

Meanwhile, registrations of petrol and diesel vehicles continued their decline, falling 13.6% year-on-year to 378,500 units.

JATO said the latest figures highlight a widening shift towards electrification, supported by a growing number of manufacturers successfully expanding their electric vehicle portfolios.

Tesla reclaimed the top position in Europe’s electric vehicle market during June, driven by strong demand for the Model Y and Model 3. However, growth was increasingly broad-based, with Renault, BMW, Skoda, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Volvo and BYD all recording strong electric vehicle sales.

Chinese and Chinese-owned brands also continued to strengthen their European presence. BYD almost doubled its combined BEV and PHEV registrations to 38,300 units, while MG increased volumes to 38,500 units. XPeng, Leapmotor, Zeekr and Omoda/Jaecoo also continued to gain market share.

Volkswagen remained Europe’s best-selling automotive brand overall, with registrations rising 1.4% to 132,800 units. Skoda continued its strong performance with sales increasing 9.5% to 84,800 units, while BMW grew 9.1% to 81,700 registrations. Toyota, Audi, Peugeot and Dacia also posted year-on-year gains.

Germany retained its position as Europe’s largest automotive market, with registrations increasing 14% to around 301,000 vehicles. The UK remained second with approximately 191,000 registrations, up 7%, continuing to demonstrate one of Europe’s highest levels of electrification, with battery electric vehicles leading growth.

France recorded a 6% increase to 169,000 registrations, while Italy and Spain also expanded by 6% and 15% respectively. Although southern European markets remain more reliant on hybrid technologies, JATO noted that BEV adoption is steadily accelerating, particularly in Spain.

Belgium and the Netherlands continued to rank among Europe’s most electrified markets, while Poland, although still dominated by combustion vehicles, reported strong growth in hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales from a relatively low base.

“June 2026 demonstrated how quickly the centre of gravity in the European market is shifting towards electrification. BEVs delivered their strongest volume performance of the year so far, surpassing one quarter of all registrations and clearly becoming the market’s main growth driver.

“At the same time, the transition remains multi-speed. While BEVs are leading in the most mature markets, HEVs and PHEVs continue to play an important role across Southern and Eastern Europe. The common trend, however, is clear, electrified vehicles are gaining share across the region, while conventional combustion powertrains continue to retreat.”