2026 (June & First Half): Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault were the best-selling car manufacturing groups in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK), with VW, Skoda, and Toyota the top brands.
During the first half of 2026, and in June 2026, the Volkswagen Group remained by far the largest carmaker in Europe despite losing market share. Stellantis and Renault also underperformed despite higher sales volumes. Chinese car manufacturers made strong gains in Europe so far in 2026. The top-selling car brands were Volkswagen, Skoda, Toyota, and BMW.
The total European new car market expanded by 6.1% to 7,232,066 cars in the first half of 2026, with battery-electric vehicles taking a 22.2% market share.
Latest European Car Market Statistics: 2026: January, February (electric), Q1 (electric), April, May; 2025 (Full Year): Market Overview, Sales by Country, Electric, Brands, Models.
Best-Selling Car Manufacturers in Europe in 2026 (June & First Half)
The best-selling car manufacturing groups in Europe in June and the first half of 2026, according to car sales statistics released by the ACEA, were:
| Manufacturer (- Brand) | 2026 (June) | 2025 (June) | 2026 (First Half) | 2025 (First Half) | % Δ (HY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Group | 345,937 | 325,026 | 1,848,988 | 1,811,660 | 2.1 |
| – Volkswagen | 133,431 | 132,433 | 725,604 | 748,159 | -3.0 |
| – Skoda | 85,952 | 78,372 | 457,663 | 412,919 | 10.8 |
| – Audi | 64,544 | 58,340 | 352,833 | 328,915 | 7.3 |
| – Cupra | 30,669 | 26,636 | 151,579 | 153,021 | -0.9 |
| – Seat | 22,343 | 19,827 | 112,398 | 113,616 | -1.1 |
| – Porsche | 8,136 | 8,501 | 43,736 | 49,998 | -12.5 |
| – Others 2 | 862 | 917 | 5,175 | 5,032 | 2.8 |
| Stellantis | 191,012 | 181,383 | 1,096,783 | 1,041,420 | 5.3 |
| – Peugeot | 63,606 | 60,798 | 345,314 | 363,778 | -5.1 |
| – Opel/Vauxhall | 40,058 | 41,351 | 228,488 | 205,111 | 11.4 |
| – Citroen | 36,229 | 34,518 | 210,268 | 190,333 | 10.5 |
| – Fiat 3 | 31,962 | 23,949 | 193,898 | 150,655 | 28.7 |
| – Jeep | 10,605 | 10,785 | 69,981 | 72,267 | -3.2 |
| – Alfa Romeo | 4,233 | 5,117 | 26,370 | 33,127 | -20.4 |
| – DS | 3,103 | 3,478 | 13,793 | 17,112 | -19.4 |
| – Lancia/Chrysler | 810 | 871 | 6,831 | 6,495 | 5.2 |
| – Others4 | 406 | 516 | 1,840 | 2,542 | -27.6 |
| Renault Group | 147,820 | 141,932 | 683,137 | 707,769 | 3.5 |
| – Renault | 81,688 | 81,434 | 393,107 | 394,190 | -0.3 |
| – Dacia | 63,424 | 59,283 | 281,814 | 308,673 | -8.7 |
| – Alpine | 2,708 | 1,215 | 8,216 | 4,906 | 67.5 |
| Hyundai Group | 99,523 | 93,414 | 534,525 | 539,029 | 0.8 |
| – Kia | 53,041 | 45,804 | 290,697 | 271,864 | 6.9 |
| – Hyundai | 46,482 | 47,610 | 243,828 | 267,165 | -8.7 |
| BMW Group | 100,770 | 89,630 | 510,639 | 486,023 | 5.1 |
| – BMW | 81,383 | 75,205 | 414,591 | 406,236 | 2.1 |
| – MINI | 19,386 | 14,425 | 96,047 | 79,787 | 20.4 |
| Toyota Group | 88,764 | 79,576 | 479,382 | 478,894 | 0.1 |
| – Toyota | 81,930 | 72,727 | 442,697 | 438,656 | 0.9 |
| – Lexus | 6,834 | 6,849 | 36,685 | 40,238 | -8.8 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 67,104 | 63,960 | 346,033 | 335,275 | 3.2 |
| Geely Group 5 | 49,244 | 41,697 | 225,350 | 207,655 | 8.5 |
| Ford | 35,440 | 38,132 | 192,373 | 226,954 | -15.2 |
| SAIC Motor | 38,647 | 26,306 | 180,659 | 153,108 | 18.0 |
| BYD | 38,455 | 15,750 | 174,144 | 70,933 | 145.5 |
| Tesla | 52,563 | 35,076 | 170,351 | 110,179 | 54.6 |
| Chery Automobile 6 | 32,455 | 8,862 | 155,800 | 38,395 | 305.8 |
| Nissan | 24,605 | 25,884 | 149,783 | 167,179 | -10.4 |
| Suzuki | 17,509 | 15,298 | 93,064 | 93,490 | 0.5 |
| Mazda | 17,010 | 15,828 | 90,864 | 81,953 | 10.9 |
| Jaguar Land Rover Group | 9,724 | 11,101 | 68,731 | 72,504 | 5.2 |
| – Land Rover | 9,723 | 11,064 | 68,721 | 69,691 | -1.4 |
| – Jaguar | 1 | 37 | 10 | 2,813 | -99.6 |
| Leapmotor 7 | 12,829 | 1,939 | 56,005 | 8,507 | 558.3 |
| Honda | 6,093 | 5,752 | 39,620 | 37,290 | 6.2 |
| Mitsubishi | 4,559 | 6,605 | 16,715 | 27,894 | -40.1 |
| Source: ACEA |
NOTES:
1 ACEA estimation based on total by market
2 Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and MAN
3 Includes Abarth
4 Dodge, Maserati, and RAM
5 Geely, Geely‑Emgrand, LEVC, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Smart, Volvo Cars, and Zeekr
6 Chery, Jaecoo, Jetour, and Omoda
7 Distributed by Leapmotor International, a jointly established, Stellantis-controlled company owned 51% by Stellantis and 49% by Leapmotor. Stellantis and Leapmotor’s combined EU + EFTA + UK market share is 16% in H1 2026
Top Car Manufacturers in Europe in 2026 (Half Year)
The Volkswagen Group lost a full percentage point market share in the first half of 2026, but remained by far Europe’s largest carmaker with 25.6% of the new car market. Volkswagen brand sales were down 3%, and its market share slipped one percentage point to 10% of all cars sold in Europe so far this year. Skoda and Audi made strong gains while the Spanish brands, Cupra and Seat, struggled.
Stellantis sales were just below market average. Peugeot sales were sharply weaker, but sales of Opel, Citroen, and especially Fiat, improved markedly.
The Renault Group had weaker sales and lost a percentage point of market share. Hyundai Group sales were slightly weaker.
BMW Group sales were just below the market average, with Mini sales up by a fifth.
The Toyota Group sales were flat, with Toyota slipping to the third-largest brand in Europe behind Skoda.
Chinese car brands registered strong growth in Europe in the first half of 2026, with BYD sales up 145% and Chery sales up 305%. BYD outsold Tesla, with both Chinese carmakers outselling established brands in Europe, including Nissan, Suzuki, and Mazda.
Best-Selling Car Brands in Europe in 2026 (Half Year)
The best-selling car brands in Europe in the first half of 2026, according to car sales statistics released by the ACEA, were:
| R | Brand | 2026 (HY) | 2025 (HY) | % Δ (HY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – Volkswagen | 725,604 | 748,159 | -3.0 |
| 2 | – Skoda | 457,663 | 412,919 | 10.8 |
| 3 | – Toyota | 442,697 | 438,656 | 0.9 |
| 4 | – BMW | 414,591 | 406,236 | 2.1 |
| 5 | – Renault | 393,107 | 394,190 | -0.3 |
| 6 | – Audi | 352,833 | 328,915 | 7.3 |
| 7 | – Mercedes-Benz | 346,033 | 335,275 | 3.2 |
| 8 | – Peugeot | 345,314 | 363,778 | -5.1 |
| 9 | – Kia | 290,697 | 271,864 | 6.9 |
| 10 | – Dacia | 281,814 | 308,673 | -8.7 |
| 11 | – Hyundai | 243,828 | 267,165 | -8.7 |
| 12 | – Opel/Vauxhall | 228,488 | 205,111 | 11.4 |
| 13 | Geely Group 5 | 225,350 | 207,655 | 8.5 |
| 14 | – Citroen | 210,268 | 190,333 | 10.5 |
| 15 | – Fiat 3 | 193,898 | 150,655 | 28.7 |
| 16 | – Ford | 192,373 | 226,954 | -15.2 |
| 17 | SAIC Motor | 180,659 | 153,108 | 18.0 |
| 18 | – BYD | 174,144 | 70,933 | 145.5 |
| 19 | – Tesla | 170,351 | 110,179 | 54.6 |
| 20 | Chery Automobile 6 | 155,800 | 38,395 | 305.8 |
Top 20 Car Brands in Europe in 2026 (HY)
As some manufacturers, including Geely, SAIC, and Chery, do not specify sales by brand, the list is not necessarily 100% accurate, but most of the comparisons and observations remain valid.
Volkswagen remained Europe’s largest car brand but lost a percentage point of market share during the first semester of 2026. Its sister brand, Skoda, was the most improved top-ten brand and moved into second place at the expense of Toyota.
BMW remained fourth, followed by Renault. Audi moved ahead of Mercedes-Benz. Both passed Peugeot, which was struggling with sales down by over 5%.
The most improved top 20 car brands in Europe were: Chery, BYD, and Tesla. The percentage growth was impressive, and it is worth noting that these carmakers outsold established brands including Cupra, Nissan, Seat, Min, Suzuki, and Mazda.
The worst-performing top brands in Europe were Ford, Porsche, and Nissan.