Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
European car registrations rise as electric and hybrid sales grow
New-car registrations across the EU, EFTA countries and the UK rose 10.2% in September, while registrations in the EU alone increased 9.3%.
Battery-electric cars reached 22.7% of EU sales from January to September, up from 16.1% a year earlier.
Non-plug-in hybrids remained the most popular type, with 36.3% of the EU market over those nine months.
Chinese automakers increased their European sales, including BYD, Chery, Geely and SAIC.
Electric-car sales rose strongly in France, Germany and Denmark, three major EU markets.
The growth matters for carmakers facing the EU’s 2030 emissions target, which the industry association says will require electric cars’ market share to more than double in under four years.
Fully electric cars accounted for 22.7% of new-car registrations in the European Union during the first nine months of 2026.
The EU registered about 1.93 million battery-electric cars from January to September, up 48.5% from the same period in 2025.
Chinese automakers recorded strong growth in Europe, including BYD, Chery, Geely, Leapmotor and SAIC.
In September, new-car registrations rose 9.3% in the EU and 10.2% across the EU, EFTA and UK, according to the reports.
ACEA said electric-car market share must more than double in less than four years for manufacturers to meet the EU’s 2030 CO2-reduction target.
- Who
- European carmakers and Chinese brands competing in the EU market.
- What
- Fully electric cars reached 22.7% of EU new-car registrations in the first nine months of 2026, while Chinese brands expanded their sales.
- When
- January to September 2026; the reports were published on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- The European Union, with reports also giving broader figures for Europe, including EFTA countries and the UK.
- Why
- The sources say demand for electrified vehicles supported the market; ACEA said electric-car share must rise to meet the 2030 CO2-reduction target.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
EU new-car registrations rose 9.3% year on year, while registrations across the EU, EFTA and UK rose 10.2%.
Fully electric cars reached 22.7% of EU new-car registrations, with about 1.93 million registrations.
The reports on EU car sales and the growth of electric vehicles and Chinese automakers were published.
- EU battery-electric share
- 22.7% of new-car registrations, January–September 2026
- EU battery-electric registrations
- 1,931,465
- Battery-electric growth
- 48.5% year on year in the EU, January–September
- Chinese brand growth
- BYD +98.7%, Chery +185.5%, Leapmotor +323.9% in Europe in September
- EU September registrations
- 971,048 new cars; up 9.3% year on year
4 sources
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What people are saying
Le immatricolazioni di auto elettriche stanno crescendo a ritmi sostenuti, un segnale positivo. Tuttavia, la quota di mercato deve più che raddoppiare in meno di quattro anni affinché i costruttori possano rispettare l’obiettivo di riduzione delle emissioni di CO2 fissato per il 2030.
notevole resilienza
un contesto macroeconomico complesso, caratterizzato da prezzi dell'energia in costante aumento e da difficoltà di natura geopolitica