EVs reach the same level as petrol cars for the first time
The European car market is growing again, but the real story lies in the distribution of powertrains. From January to August 2026, new passenger-car registrations in the EU increased by a total of 5.3%.
Battery-electric cars recorded 1,641,333 new registrations and a market share of 21.7%. In the same period of 2025, their share was just 15.8%. This means EVs gained 5.9 percentage points within one year.
Fully electric cars are now slightly ahead of petrol cars in new registrations, even though both powertrains have a rounded market share of 21.7%.
In absolute terms, the lead amounts to 6,600 vehicles. The trend therefore confirms the previously apparent EV boom in Europe, although momentum varies significantly by country.
Powertrains compared
| Powertrain | New registrations | 2026 market share | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric | 1,641,333 | 21.7% | Previous-year share: 15.8% |
| Non-plug-in hybrid | 2,759,718 | 36.6% | Largest powertrain category |
| Plug-in hybrid | 758,082 | 10.0% | Previous-year share: 8.8% |
| Petrol | 1,634,733 | 21.7% | 18.6% fewer registrations |
| Diesel | Not specified | 7.3% | 18.6% fewer registrations |
Non-plug-in hybrids remain by far the largest category, with a share of 36.6%. This category includes vehicles that can provide electric assistance over short distances but obtain all their energy from fuel and regenerative braking.
Plug-in hybrids increased their share from 8.8% to 10%. Together, battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids therefore account for 31.7%. Petrol and diesel cars now have a combined share of just 29%, down from 37.5% in the same period of the previous year.
Germany and France drive growth
Battery-electric registrations increased particularly strongly in France, where growth compared with the same period of the previous year reached 74.2%. Germany recorded an increase of 53.1%, Denmark 40.9%, and Belgium 13.1%.
For conventional hybrids, Spain led with growth of 21%, ahead of Italy at 20.5%. Germany recorded 5.2%, while France posted 1.8%.
Plug-in hybrids also gained ground in several major markets. Italy reported an increase of 77.6%, Spain 33.9%, and Germany 15.6%.
What the figures mean for the DACH region
Germany is therefore one of the EU’s most important growth drivers for battery-electric cars. Austria is included in the overall EU figures but is not reported separately in the available country data. Switzerland, as a non-EU country, is not included. Together, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are commonly known as the DACH region.
Petrol and diesel decline simultaneously
Petrol-car registrations fell by 18.6% to 1,634,733 vehicles. As a result, their market share dropped from 28% to 21.7%. Particularly noteworthy is that not only the percentage share is falling, but also the absolute number of new registrations.
The situation is similar for diesel. Registrations also fell by 18.6%, while market share declined from 9.4% to 7.3%. Petrol and diesel are therefore not only losing ground to electrified powertrains but are also shrinking despite growth in the overall new-car market.
Hybrids dominate, but BEVs are making structural gains
The high share of hybrids shows that many buyers are still choosing an intermediate step toward fully electric mobility. Particularly for households without reliable private charging, hybrid models may seem more convenient, even though they still depend entirely on fuel.
Battery-electric cars, by contrast, are benefiting from a much stronger shift in market share. A jump from 15.8% to 21.7% within one year is more than a short-term fluctuation. The 2026 EV ranking for Western Europe shows which manufacturers and models are benefiting most.
Rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty continue to create a difficult environment for the overall market. Nevertheless, the registration figures demonstrate a clear structural shift: electric cars are becoming a mainstream powertrain, while conventional combustion-engine cars are losing relevance faster than the overall market is growing.
