New car registrations in the European Union fell by 1.2% year-to-date (YTD) in February 2026, confirming a sluggish start to the year after the downturn already recorded in January, according to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
Despite the overall contraction, electrified vehicles continue to consolidate their position in the market, with battery-electric cars reaching an 18.8% share, up significantly from 15.2% in the same period of 2025.
Electric vehicles maintain strong momentum
Between January and February 2026, 312,369 new battery-electric cars were registered across the EU, accounting for 18.8% of total market share. According to the latest report from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, this growth highlights the continued expansion potential of zero-emission mobility.
Performance across the EU’s largest markets — which together represent 61% of battery-electric registrations — was uneven. France (+38.5%) and Germany (+26.3%) posted strong gains, while Belgium (-11%) and the Netherlands (-34.9%) recorded notable declines.
Hybrid-electric vehicles remain the most popular option among European consumers, capturing 38.7% of the market with 643,898 units registered YTD. Growth in this segment was driven by Italy (+29.5%) and Spain (+13.4%), while Germany saw marginal growth (+1.1%) and France registered a slight decline (-3.9%).
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also strengthened their position. Registrations rose to 162,751 units in the first two months of 2026, increasing their market share to 9.8%, up from 7.4% a year earlier. This growth was largely supported by Italy (+116.1%), Spain (+71.5%), and Germany (+23.8%).
Combustion engines continue to lose share
The rise of electrified vehicles is accelerating the decline of traditional internal combustion engines. The combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 30.6% in early 2026, down from 38.7% in the same period last year.
Petrol car registrations dropped sharply by 23.3% across the EU. France recorded the steepest decline (-48.5%), followed by Germany (-22.8%), Spain (-20.8%), and Italy (-18.6%). In total, 374,774 petrol cars were registered, representing 22.5% of the market, compared to 29% a year earlier.
Diesel vehicles continued their downward trajectory, with registrations decreasing by 17.7% and accounting for just 8.1% of new car registrations between January and February.
A technology-neutral transition
Overall, the data reflects a market in transition. While battery-electric vehicles are steadily gaining ground, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models continue to play a central role in the EU’s decarbonisation pathway.
As highlighted in the report from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, the current trends underline the importance of maintaining a technology-neutral approach to support the shift towards lower-emission mobility while adapting to varying market dynamics across member states.
