EU new car registrations rise 5.7% in H1 as EV market share reaches 20.7%

New car registrations across the European Union increased by 5.7% during the first half of 2026, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) capturing a record 20.7% market share, according to the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The growth was supported by a strong performance in June and continued consumer demand for electrified vehicles, despite what ACEA described as persistent geopolitical headwinds affecting the wider market outlook.

Hybrid-electric vehicles remained the most popular powertrain, accounting for 37.3% of all new EU registrations, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) increased their share to 9.8%. Together, electrified vehicles continued to gain ground as the market share of petrol and diesel models fell below 30%.

A total of 1,220,890 battery-electric cars were registered across the EU during the first six months of the year, increasing their market share from 15.6% in the first half of 2025 to 20.7%.

Three of Europe’s four largest EV markets, representing almost two-thirds of all battery-electric registrations, recorded significant growth. France led the way with registrations rising by 62.9%, followed by Germany at 48% and Denmark at 41.2%, while Belgium also recorded an 8.2% increase.

Hybrid-electric vehicles continued to dominate the market, with registrations rising to 2,198,148 units. Italy posted the strongest growth among the major markets, with registrations increasing by 23%, followed by Spain (+20.8%), Germany (+6.9%) and France (+3.2%).

Plug-in hybrid registrations also continued to strengthen, reaching 577,735 units during the first half of the year. Italy recorded an 84.3% increase, while Spain and Germany saw growth of 39% and 17.9% respectively. As a result, PHEVs accounted for 9.8% of new EU registrations, up from 8.5% a year earlier.

In contrast, registrations of conventionally powered vehicles continued to decline.

Petrol car registrations fell by 17.2% during the first half of 2026, with all major markets recording double-digit declines. France experienced the sharpest fall at 34.2%, followed by Germany (-18.2%), Spain (-18.5%) and Italy (-17.1%).

With 1,309,153 petrol cars registered, the fuel type’s market share declined from 28.4% in the first half of 2025 to 22.2%.

Diesel registrations also continued their long-term decline, falling by 16.5% year-on-year and accounting for just 7.5% of new EU car registrations, compared with 9.4% during the same period last year.

Overall, the combined market share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell to 29.7%, down from 37.8% in the first half of 2025, underlining the continued shift towards electrified powertrains across the European automotive market.