The European Union’s car market is rapidly shifting towards cleaner technologies, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids gaining significant ground in early 2026. Data for January–February shows that battery-electric cars captured 18.8% of the total market share, up from 15.2% during the same period last year, reflecting steady growth in the electric vehicle segment.

A total of 312,369 new battery-electric cars were registered across the EU in the first two months of 2026. Among the four largest markets, France and Germany recorded strong growth at 38.5% and 26.3% respectively, while Belgium and the Netherlands saw notable declines of 11% and 34.9%.

Hybrid-electric vehicles remained the most popular choice among consumers, accounting for 38.7% of total registrations. Registrations reached 643,898 units, supported by strong growth in Italy (+29.5%) and Spain (+13.4%), while Germany remained stable and France saw a slight decline of 3.9%.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles also showed impressive momentum, with registrations rising to 162,751 units. Major increases were recorded in Italy (+116.1%), Spain (+71.5%), and Germany (+23.8%). As a result, plug-in hybrids now hold 9.8% of the EU market, compared to 7.4% a year earlier.

In contrast, traditional fuel-powered vehicles continued to lose market share. Petrol car registrations dropped sharply by 23.3%, with France seeing the steepest decline at 48.5%, followed by Germany, Spain, and Italy. Petrol cars now account for 22.5% of the market, down from 29% last year.

Diesel vehicles also continued their downward trend, with registrations falling by 17.7% and making up just 8.1% of new car sales.

Overall, the figures highlight a clear transition in the EU automotive market, with consumers increasingly opting for hybrid and electric vehicles while moving away from petrol and diesel options.