2026 (September): the European new car market expanded by 10.2% with Q1 to Q3 vehicle sales in Europe up 6.3% (EU, EFTA, UK).
New passenger vehicle registrations in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 10.2% in September 2026 to 1,363,210 cars. Battery electric vehicle sales in the EU grew 72.9% for a 29.9% market share. In September 2026, Volkswagen was again the best-selling carmaker in Europe, despite losing market share and sales volume, followed by Stellantis and Renault. The Tesla Model Y was the top-selling car model.
- Latest European Car Market Statistics: 2026 (Half Year), July; 2025 (Full Year)
European New Car Market in 2026 (Q1 – Q3)
2026 (January-September): during the first three quarters of 2026, new passenger vehicle registrations in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 6.3% to 10,555,351 cars. European new car sales thus far in 2026 were well above the 9,928,527 vehicles registered in the first three quarters of 2025 and 9,777,143 in 2024.
According to JATO, in September 2026, the European new car market benefited from a combination of strong fleet activity, increasing private demand for electrified vehicles, and a growing number of competitive BEV launches. The result was one of the strongest months of the year for Europe’s automotive market.
European New Car Market in 2026 (September)
In September 2026, the European new car market expanded by 10.2% to 1,363,210 cars, compared to 1,236,876 cars in September 2025 and 1,119,320 in 2024. In September 2019, sales were 1,285,494 cars.
New car sales in the European Union increased by a more modest 9.8% in September 2026 to 971,048 vehicles. Year-to-date 2026, new passenger vehicle registrations in the EU increased by 5.7% to 8,517,059 cars.
Battery-electric car sales increased by 72.9% in the EU and 60% in the larger European region in September 2026 for a market share of 29.9% (EU) and 30.5% respectively.
Car Sales by European Country in 2026 (Q1 to Q3)
New passenger vehicle registrations per European country in September 2026 and year-to-date 2026 (Q1+Q2+Q3), according to the ACEA, were as follows:
| Country | September 2026 | Jan–Sep 2026 | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 28,968 | 241,108 | 12.1 |
| Belgium | 32,124 | 320,374 | -1.1 |
| Bulgaria | 4,193 | 39,755 | 9.8 |
| Croatia | 4,565 | 59,138 | 4.3 |
| Cyprus | 1,194 | 10,518 | -10.9 |
| Czechia | 19,095 | 186,768 | 2.4 |
| Denmark | 20,025 | 151,786 | 13.2 |
| Estonia | 1,663 | 14,734 | 56.4 |
| Finland | 6,984 | 56,930 | 5.5 |
| France | 156,629 | 1,234,951 | 4.1 |
| Germany | 256,774 | 2,221,798 | 5.3 |
| Greece | 12,802 | 115,172 | 2.6 |
| Hungary | 12,488 | 108,422 | 13.0 |
| Ireland | 6,320 | 128,256 | 5.4 |
| Italy | 139,166 | 1,267,910 | 8.6 |
| Latvia | 1,889 | 17,530 | -0.2 |
| Lithuania | 3,901 | 36,803 | 17.3 |
| Luxembourg | 3,537 | 37,485 | 2.7 |
| Malta | 629 | 6,006 | 29.6 |
| Netherlands | 36,259 | 264,701 | -1.9 |
| Poland | 56,354 | 470,497 | 10.0 |
| Portugal | 19,589 | 188,912 | 10.1 |
| Romania | 11,068 | 97,210 | -10.6 |
| Slovakia | 7,021 | 63,733 | -5.5 |
| Slovenia | 5,286 | 52,717 | 18.7 |
| Spain | 93,858 | 912,059 | 6.7 |
| Sweden | 28,667 | 211,786 | 3.8 |
| EUROPEAN UNION | 971,048 | 8,517,059 | 5.7 |
| Iceland | 945 | 10,287 | -3.7 |
| Norway | 18,733 | 115,197 | 0.9 |
| Switzerland | 21,948 | 173,537 | 2.7 |
| EFTA | 41,626 | 299,021 | 1.8 |
| United Kingdom | 350,536 | 1,739,271 | 10.2 |
| EU + EFTA + UK | 1,363,210 | 10,555,351 | 6.3 |
The European new car market benefited from solid sales increases in the five largest markets. Germany, by far the most important new car market in Europe, recorded 5.3% growth thus far in 2026 — battery-electric car sales, especially from private buyers, became a somewhat unexpected growth factor.
Of the larger European new car markets, the UK grew the fastest. The British market expanded by 10.2%. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Romania were the only weaker large markets thus far in 2026.