2026 (Q1): Battery-electric car sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by a quarter, with all-electric sales up 42% in March 2026.
Sales of battery-electric cars (BEV) increased by a strong 26% to 723,704 all-electric cars in Europe in the first quarter of 2026. In March 2026, BEV sales increased by 41.7% for a 21.8% of the European new car market. The largest European markets for electric car sales thus far in 2026 were Germany, Britain, France, and Belgium. The Tesla Model Y was the top-selling car model in Europe in March 2026 and again Europe’s favorite all-electric car. The European new car market expanded by 4.1% to 3,521,110 cars in the first quarter of 2026, with Volkswagen and Skoda the top-selling brands.
Latest European Car Market Statistics: 2026: January, February (electric), Q1 (electric); 2025 (Full Year): Market Overview, Sales by Country, Electric, Brands, Models.
Electric Car Sales in Europe in 2026 (Q1)
In 2026 (Q1), new battery-electric car sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 26.2% to 723,704 all-electric cars (573,439 in 2025 Q1). In the European Union (EU), BEV sales increased by an even stronger 32.5% to 546,937 all-electric cars (412,936 in 2025 Q1).
The share of battery-electric passenger vehicles in Europe in the first quarter of 2026 increased to 20.6% from 17% in 2025 Q1. In the European Union, the share of BEVs increased to 19.4% from 15.2% in 2025 Q1. Purely petrol engine cars in the EU slipped to 22.6% and diesels to only 7.7%.
Germany and Britain remained the largest markets in Europe for electric cars during the first quarter of 2026, but sales growth was faster in France. In Italy, electric car sales increased by nearly two-thirds, but the actual volumes (and market share) still lag well behind the other large European markets.
Electric Car Sales in Europe in 2026 (March)
In March 2026, new battery-electric passenger vehicle registration in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 41.7% to 344,064 BEVs (from 242,881 cars in March 2025). European Union, all-electric car sales increased by 48.9% to 234,532 BEVs (from 157,473 in March 2025).
In March 2026, the UK was the largest market for all-electric cars in Europe, and also the largest car market overall. Due to a change in the number plate letters, March is traditionally the most important month of the year for new car sales in Britain.
However, all-electric car sales increased more strongly in both Germany and France. In Germany, new incentives were finally confirmed and are expected to boost electric car sales in 2026.
An increase in fuel prices due to the conflict in Iran saw a sharp increase in queries for electric cars in most markets, but these were too early to influence actual registrations.
New All-Electric Car Sales per European Country in 2026 (Q1)
New battery-electric passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union, EFTA, and UK countries were as follows in 2026 (Q1 and March) according to car sales data released by the ACEA:
| Country | BEV 2026/Q1 | BEV 2025/Q1 | % BEV Q1 | BEV March 2026 | BEV March 2025 | % BEV March |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 17,347 | 14,177 | 22.4 | 8,206 | 6,122 | 34 |
| Belgium | 39,469 | 40,402 | -2.3 | 15,661 | 13,650 | 14.7 |
| Bulgaria | 747 | 498 | 50 | 349 | 217 | 60.8 |
| Croatia | 780 | 204 | 282.4 | 445 | 82 | 442.7 |
| Cyprus | 425 | 361 | 17.7 | 113 | 105 | 7.6 |
| Czechia | 3,439 | 3,113 | 10.5 | 1,541 | 1,395 | 10.5 |
| Denmark | 34,970 | 24,523 | 42.6 | 14,616 | 9,850 | 48.4 |
| Estonia | 260 | 224 | 16.1 | 119 | 82 | 45.1 |
| Finland | 8,063 | 5,639 | 43 | 3,369 | 2,435 | 38.4 |
| France | 112,083 | 74,519 | 50.4 | 49,406 | 29,261 | 68.8 |
| Germany | 159,630 | 112,968 | 41.3 | 70,663 | 42,521 | 66.2 |
| Greece | 2,294 | 2,020 | 13.6 | 1,015 | 775 | 31 |
| Hungary | 3,192 | 2,408 | 32.6 | 1,557 | 1,154 | 34.9 |
| Ireland | 13,982 | 9,964 | 40.3 | 3,829 | 2,531 | 51.3 |
| Italy | 38,084 | 22,983 | 65.7 | 16,121 | 9,367 | 72.1 |
| Latvia | 323 | 294 | 9.9 | 133 | 130 | 2.3 |
| Lithuania | 758 | 485 | 56.3 | 278 | 223 | 24.7 |
| Luxembourg | 3,381 | 3,733 | -9.4 | 1,384 | 1,432 | -3.4 |
| Malta | 505 | 302 | 67.2 | 133 | 118 | 12.6 |
| Netherlands | 24,869 | 32,413 | -23.3 | 11,114 | 11,156 | -0.4 |
| Poland | 8,841 | 5,107 | 73.1 | 3,406 | 2,311 | 47.4 |
| Portugal | 15,136 | 12,175 | 24.3 | 6,063 | 4,964 | 22.1 |
| Romania | 2,587 | 2,161 | 19.7 | 679 | 273 | 148.7 |
| Slovakia | 1,014 | 831 | 22 | 432 | 352 | 22.7 |
| Slovenia | 2,297 | 1,289 | 78.2 | 1,162 | 480 | 142.1 |
| Spain | 27,226 | 19,225 | 41.6 | 11,863 | 8,101 | 46.4 |
| Sweden | 25,235 | 20,918 | 20.6 | 10,875 | 8,386 | 29.7 |
| EU | 546,937 | 412,936 | 32.5 | 234,532 | 157,473 | 48.9 |
| Iceland | 1,122 | 956 | 17.4 | 618 | 482 | 28.2 |
| Norway | 26,617 | 28,623 | -7 | 17,406 | 11,192 | 55.5 |
| Switzerland | 11,414 | 10,733 | 6.3 | 5,388 | 4,421 | 21.9 |
| EFTA | 39,153 | 40,312 | -2.9 | 23,412 | 16,095 | 45.5 |
| UK | 137,614 | 120,191 | 14.5 | 86,120 | 69,313 | 24.2 |
| EU+EFTA+UK | 723,704 | 573,439 | 26.2 | 344,064 | 242,881 | 41.7 |
| Source: ACEA |