2026 (Q1-Q3): Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 41.9%, with all-electric cars almost a quarter of the total European new car market.
Sales of battery-electric cars (BEV) increased by 41.9% to 2,549,810 all-electric cars in Europe in the first three quarters of 2026. The largest European markets for electric car sales thus far in 2026 were Germany, Britain, France, Belgium, and Denmark. The total European new car market expanded by 6.3% to 10,555,351 cars in the first three quarters of 2026, with Volkswagen the top-selling brand despite losing market share. In September 2026, the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 were the top-selling electric car models in Europe.
- Latest European Car Market Statistics: 2026 (Half Year), July; 2025 (Full Year)
Electric Car Sales in Europe in 2026 (Q1 to Q3)
In 2026 (January to September), new battery-electric car sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 41.9% to 2,549,810 all-electric cars. In the European Union (EU), BEV sales increased by an even stronger 48.5% to 1,931,465 all-electric cars.
The share of battery-electric passenger vehicles in Europe in the first nine months of 2026 increased to 24.2%, according to the ACEA. In the European Union, the share of BEVs increased to 22.7%. Petrol cars in the EU slipped to 21.2% and diesels to only 7.1%, excluding hybrids.
Germany and Britain remained the largest markets in Europe for electric cars during the first nine months of 2026. However, BEV sales grew faster in both France and Italy.
BEVs had the largest market share in Scandinavian countries, with electric car sales in Norway at almost 98% of the total market and Denmark at just over 80%.
New All-Electric Car Sales per European Country in 2026 (Q1 to Q3)
New battery-electric passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union, EFTA, and UK countries were as follows in 2026 (January to September), according to car sales data released by the ACEA:
| Country | 2026 (Q1-Q3) BEV | 2025 (Q1-Q3) BEV | % Change BEV | Total Vehicle Sales | BEV Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 63,172 | 46,151 | 36.9 | 241,108 | 26.2 |
| Belgium | 125,220 | 108,221 | 15.7 | 320,374 | 39.1 |
| Bulgaria | 3,480 | 1,673 | 108.0 | 39,755 | 8.8 |
| Croatia | 2,457 | 713 | 244.6 | 59,138 | 4.2 |
| Cyprus | 1,099 | 1,149 | -4.4 | 10,518 | 10.4 |
| Czechia | 13,806 | 10,180 | 35.6 | 186,768 | 7.4 |
| Denmark | 124,049 | 88,402 | 40.3 | 151,786 | 81.7 |
| Estonia | 1,153 | 658 | 75.2 | 14,734 | 7.8 |
| Finland | 28,677 | 19,231 | 49.1 | 56,930 | 50.4 |
| France | 387,342 | 216,311 | 79.1 | 1,234,951 | 31.4 |
| Germany | 604,144 | 382,202 | 58.1 | 2,221,798 | 27.2 |
| Greece | 8,180 | 6,154 | 32.9 | 115,172 | 7.1 |
| Hungary | 10,443 | 8,025 | 30.1 | 108,422 | 9.6 |
| Ireland | 35,179 | 22,376 | 57.2 | 128,256 | 27.4 |
| Italy | 101,716 | 61,018 | 66.7 | 1,267,910 | 8.0 |
| Latvia | 1,831 | 1,252 | 46.2 | 17,530 | 10.4 |
| Lithuania | 3,143 | 2,171 | 44.8 | 36,803 | 8.5 |
| Luxembourg | 11,615 | 9,396 | 23.6 | 37,485 | 31.0 |
| Malta | 2,425 | 1,541 | 57.4 | 6,006 | 40.4 |
| Netherlands | 109,024 | 93,824 | 16.2 | 264,701 | 41.2 |
| Poland | 24,404 | 25,828 | -5.5 | 470,497 | 5.2 |
| Portugal | 54,726 | 36,707 | 49.1 | 188,912 | 29.0 |
| Romania | 7,889 | 5,424 | 45.4 | 97,210 | 8.1 |
| Slovakia | 4,470 | 2,969 | 50.6 | 63,733 | 7.0 |
| Slovenia | 10,457 | 4,424 | 136.4 | 52,717 | 19.8 |
| Spain | 100,508 | 72,064 | 39.5 | 912,059 | 11.0 |
| Sweden | 90,856 | 72,224 | 25.8 | 211,786 | 42.9 |
| EUROPEAN UNION | 1,931,465 | 1,300,288 | 48.5 | 8,517,059 | 22.7 |
| Iceland | 5,108 | 3,751 | 36.2 | 10,287 | 49.7 |
| Norway | 112,826 | 107,880 | 4.6 | 115,197 | 97.9 |
| Switzerland | 45,464 | 35,725 | 27.3 | 173,537 | 26.2 |
| EFTA | 163,398 | 147,356 | 10.9 | 299,021 | 54.6 |
| United Kingdom | 454,947 | 349,414 | 30.2 | 1,739,271 | 26.2 |
| EU + EFTA + UK | 2,549,810 | 1,797,058 | 41.9 | 10,555,351 | 24.2 |
NOTE: Table based on ACEA data. JATO used a slightly smaller data set.
Key Trends in European Electric Car Sales
In the first nine months of 2026, Germany, Britain, and France remained the largest country markets in Europe for all-electric cars. However, growth was faster in France, where BEV sales increased by 79.1% for a 31.4% share of the total French new car market thus far in 2026. French carmakers, especially Renault, are finally selling the smaller (and cheaper) electric cars that consumers actually needed.
In Germany, private buyers are increasingly driving the expansion of the all-electric car market. Volkswagen finally seems to have an electric car hit with the small ID Polo, but the reported high orders will only be reflected in sales during 2027.
In the UK, where carmakers have to comply with legal minimum electric car sales, or risk high fines or charges, all-electric car sales took only 26.2% of total sales. This market share is lower than in Germany and France, where no such requirements are set.
BEV sales in Italy increased by 66.7%, but the market share remains below 10%. In Spain, electric cars similarly had a small market share, but this is expected to increase following the implementation of new incentives.
Norway remained the country with the highest percentage of electric car sales, with BEVs taking a 98% share of the total market thus far in 2026, followed by Denmark with an 81.7% share.