In Q1 2026, new EU car registrations 

New EU car registrations by power source

As stated in the document, “Battery electric cars accounted for 19.7% of the EU market share in Q1 2026”. This represents a clear increase from 15.2% a year earlier. Hybrid electric vehicles captured 38.6% of the market, maintaining their position as the preferred option among EU consumers. Meanwhile, the combined share of petrol and diesel vehicles declined to 30.3%, down from 38.2% in Q1 2025.

Electric cars

A total of 546,937 new battery electric cars were registered in Q1 2026, representing 19.4% of the EU market. The four largest markets — Italy, France, Germany, and Belgium — showed mixed results. Italy (+65.7%), France (+50.4%), and Germany (+41.3%) recorded strong growth, while Belgium experienced a slight decline of 2.3%.

Hybrid electric cars

Hybrid electric registrations increased to 1,089,421 units. Growth was driven by Italy (+25.8%) and Spain (+18.5%), with Germany (+7.4%) and France (+3.1%) also contributing positively. Hybrids accounted for 38.6% of the total EU market.

Plug in hybrid electric cars

PHEV registrations continued to rise, reaching 268,344 units in the first quarter. Italy (+110.1%), Spain (+74.2%), and Germany (+19.3%) were the main contributors to this growth. As a result, PHEVs now represent 9.5% of EU registrations, up from 7.6% in Q1 2025.

Petrol and diesel cars

Petrol registrations fell by 18.2%, with France showing the steepest decline at 40.3%. Italy (–18.6%), Spain (–18.1%), and Germany (–16.1%) also recorded significant drops. Petrol’s market share decreased to 22.6%, while diesel declined by 15.7% and accounted for 7.7% of new registrations.

Country level developments

Italy and Spain: strong Mediterranean momentum
Italy became a major driver of electrified mobility in early 2026. As the document notes, “Italian BEV registrations skyrocketed by an astonishing 65.7%”, supported by new government incentives. PHEVs surged by 110.1%, and hybrids increased by 25.8%.
Spain showed similar strength, with PHEV registrations rising by 74.2% and hybrid electric vehicles by 18.5%.

Germany and France: Europe’s core markets

France recorded a 50.4% increase in BEV registrations, accompanied by a dramatic 40.3% drop in petrol cars — the sharpest decline in the EU. Germany posted balanced growth across BEVs (+41.3%), PHEVs (+19.3%), and hybrids (+7.4%), despite a 16.1% fall in petrol sales.

UK and Northern Europe: diverging paths

The United Kingdom continued its steady shift toward electrification, supported by fleet mandates and tax incentives. Northern Europe — led by Norway, Sweden, and Denmark — maintained its position as the global frontrunner, with BEV shares consistently above 80%. Belgium, however, saw a slight BEV decline of 2.3% due to subsidy adjustments.

The Netherlands: a separate case

Market contraction due to fiscal changes

The Dutch market diverged sharply from the EU trend. As the document states, “The overall Dutch new car market contracted by 10.8% year on year”, ending the quarter with 81,480 registrations. This decline was caused by higher additional tax liability for new EVs (18%) and reduced road tax subsidies, which triggered a pull forward effect in late 2025.

The EV market share paradox

BEV registrations fell by 23.3% to 24,869 units. Yet BEVs still achieved a 30.5% market share — the third highest in Europe. Higher taxes pushed consumers toward alternatives: PHEVs captured 26% of the market, while hybrids dominated with 58.4% of all Q1 sales.

Conclusion

Q1 2026 illustrates a fragmented but undeniable shift toward electrification. Northern Europe continues to set the benchmark, while rapid growth in Italy, France, and Germany shows that targeted incentives and a diverse mix of hybrid technologies are effectively accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.