2026 (September): Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 60%, with the Tesla Model Y the top-selling all-electric car model.
In September 2026, sales of battery-electric cars (BEV) increased by 59.9% to 416,433 all-electric cars in Europe. The total European new car market expanded by 10.2% to 1,363,210 vehicles. The largest European markets for electric car sales were Germany, Britain, France, Belgium, and Denmark. In September 2026, the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 were the top-selling electric car models in Europe (and the best-selling models overall).
- Latest European Car Market Statistics: 2026 (Half Year), July; 2025 (Full Year)
Electric Car Sales in Europe in 2026 (September)
In 2026 (September), new battery-electric car sales in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 59.9% to 416,433 all-electric cars. In the European Union (EU), BEV sales increased by an even stronger 72.9% to 290,117 all-electric cars.
With over 415,000 BEVs registered, September 2026 was one of the highest-volume electric vehicle months ever recorded in Europe. BEV penetration was above the 30% threshold for the first time in the JATO data.
According to JATO, the growth in all-electric car sales in Europe is no longer being carried by a few early adopters. Established manufacturers are now competing directly with new challengers across virtually every vehicle segment, from compact city cars to premium SUVs.
New All-Electric Car Sales per European Country in 2026 (September)
New battery-electric passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union, EFTA, and UK countries were as follows in September 2026, according to car sales data released by the ACEA:
| Country | 2026 BEV | 2025 BEV | % Change BEV | Total Vehicle Sales | % BEV Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 9,723 | 5,383 | 80.6 | 28,968 | 33.6 |
| Belgium | 16,341 | 11,966 | 36.6 | 32,124 | 50.9 |
| Bulgaria | 569 | 226 | 151.8 | 4,193 | 13.6 |
| Croatia | 160 | 178 | -10.1 | 4,565 | 3.5 |
| Cyprus | 96 | 151 | -36.4 | 1,194 | 8.0 |
| Czechia | 2,141 | 1,360 | 57.4 | 19,095 | 11.2 |
| Denmark | 17,784 | 12,989 | 36.9 | 20,025 | 88.8 |
| Estonia | 186 | 68 | 173.5 | 1,663 | 11.2 |
| Finland | 4,338 | 2,592 | 67.4 | 6,984 | 62.1 |
| France | 65,243 | 31,439 | 107.5 | 156,629 | 41.7 |
| Germany | 88,599 | 45,495 | 94.7 | 256,774 | 34.5 |
| Greece | 1,356 | 850 | 59.5 | 12,802 | 10.6 |
| Hungary | 1,218 | 905 | 34.6 | 12,488 | 9.8 |
| Ireland | 3,114 | 1,734 | 79.6 | 6,320 | 49.3 |
| Italy | 10,552 | 7,162 | 47.3 | 139,166 | 7.6 |
| Latvia | 328 | 175 | 87.4 | 1,889 | 17.4 |
| Lithuania | 561 | 517 | 8.5 | 3,901 | 14.4 |
| Luxembourg | 1,331 | 1,245 | 6.9 | 3,537 | 37.6 |
| Malta | 283 | 283 | 0.0 | 629 | 45.0 |
| Netherlands | 19,149 | 12,079 | 58.5 | 36,259 | 52.8 |
| Poland | 3,478 | 4,452 | -21.9 | 56,354 | 6.2 |
| Portugal | 9,338 | 4,984 | 87.4 | 19,589 | 47.7 |
| Romania | 871 | 746 | 16.8 | 11,068 | 7.9 |
| Slovakia | 734 | 324 | 126.5 | 7,021 | 10.5 |
| Slovenia | 1,224 | 742 | 65.0 | 5,286 | 23.2 |
| Spain | 17,366 | 10,112 | 71.7 | 93,858 | 18.5 |
| Sweden | 14,034 | 9,619 | 45.9 | 28,667 | 49.0 |
| EUROPEAN UNION | 290,117 | 167,776 | 72.9 | 971,048 | 29.9 |
| Iceland | 771 | 625 | 23.4 | 945 | 81.6 |
| Norway | 18,511 | 14,084 | 31.4 | 18,733 | 98.8 |
| Switzerland | 7,833 | 5,182 | 51.2 | 21,948 | 35.7 |
| EFTA | 27,115 | 19,891 | 36.3 | 41,626 | 65.1 |
| United Kingdom | 99,201 | 72,779 | 36.3 | 350,536 | 28.3 |
| EU + EFTA + UK | 416,433 | 260,446 | 59.9 | 1,363,210 | 30.5 |
NOTE: Table based on ACEA data. JATO used a slightly smaller data set.
Key Trends in European Electric Car Sales
Due to a change in number plate letters, September is traditionally one of the most important months of the year for car sales in Britain. It was again the case in September when the British new car market was larger than the German one for both all-electric and total car sales.
In September 2026, BEV sales in the UK increased by 36.3% to 99,201 electric cars for a 28.3% share of the total British new car market.
In Germany, all-electric car sales almost doubled in September 2026 for a 34.5% market share. In France, BEV sales more than doubled to 41.7% of all new car sales.
→ See also 2026 (Q3) Europe: Battery-Electric Car Sales by European Country.
Best-Selling Electric Car Models in Europe in September 2026
The ten best-selling electric car models in Europe in September 2026, according to JATO, were:
| Electric Car Model | Sales September 2026 | % Change vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 41,588 | 55% |
| Tesla Model 3 | 27,132 | 114% |
| Skoda Elroq | 12,178 | 18% |
| Renault 5 | 9,126 | 37% |
| Skoda Enyaq | 8,286 | 55% |
| Renault Twingo | 7,839 | – |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 7,729 | 25% |
| Volvo EX30 | 7,476 | 46% |
| BMW iX3 | 7,372 | – |
| Mercedes CLA | 7,324 | 108% |
Tesla dominated September’s new vehicle registrations in Europe, with the Model Y and Model 3 taking the top two positions overall — not only for electric vehicles. Combined, they accounted for more than 68,000 units.
Skoda and Renault also had two models each on the top ten list of best-selling electric cars in Europe in September 2026.