Electrification Accelerates: Plug-in Hybrids Overtake Diesels, One in Five New Cars Is Electric
ACEA Report for the First Five Months of 2026
Market Growth and a Higher Share of Electric Vehicles
New passenger car registrations in the European Union increased by 4.0% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, while electric vehicles reached a 20% market share, according to a report by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), submitted to the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.
ACEA highlights that this growth represents a strong result considering the challenging geopolitical environment since the beginning of the year. The report particularly emphasizes the robust growth in demand for electrified vehicles across key European markets, supported by new and revised tax incentives and support schemes.
Between January and May 2026, a total of 4,748,801 passenger cars were sold in the European Union, representing a 4.0% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 4,565,818 vehicles were sold.
Germany, Europe’s largest automotive market, recorded a 3.6% increase, with 1,188,015 newly registered vehicles compared to 1,146,596 during the same period last year. Italy firmly retained its position as the EU’s second-largest market, with 789,802 vehicles sold and a significant growth rate of 9.4%. France, on the other hand, recorded a slight decline of 0.6%, with 668,378 vehicles sold compared to 672,700 in the same period of 2025. Spain continued its positive momentum, reaching 519,283 new vehicle registrations in the first five months of the year, representing a 5.8% increase compared to 490,769 units sold during the same period last year. Among the fastest-growing EU markets was Slovenia, with 30,053 newly registered vehicles between January and May, marking an impressive 20.3% increase compared to 24,982 units in the corresponding period of 2025. Croatia also delivered strong results, with 35,146 new vehicles sold since the beginning of the year, up 6.5% from 33,006 units sold during the same period last year.
Sales by Powertrain Type
ACEA data show that hybrid vehicles held the largest market share in the first five months of 2026, accounting for 37.8% of all new registrations. They were followed by petrol-powered vehicles with a 22.4% share and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with 20%. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), with a 9.7% market share, overtook diesel vehicles for the first time, while diesel-powered cars accounted for just 7.6% of the market.
Electrified Vehicles
During the first five months of 2026, a total of 950,521 new battery electric vehicles were registered, giving BEVs a remarkable 20% share of the EU market. Three of the four largest EU markets, which together accounted for 63% of all electric vehicle registrations, recorded substantial growth:
Hybrid vehicle sales in the European Union reached 1,795,071 units, supported by growth across major markets:
Registrations of plug-in hybrid vehicles continued their strong upward trend, reaching 460,217 units by May 2026. The strongest growth was recorded in:
Petrol and Diesel Vehicles
By the end of May 2026, registrations of petrol-powered cars had fallen by 18.2%, with declines recorded across all major European markets.
France recorded the steepest decline (-36.8%), while significant double-digit decreases were also reported in:
With 1,065,071 newly registered vehicles in the first five months of the year, the market share of petrol-powered cars dropped to 22.4%, down from 28.5% during the same period in 2025. The diesel market continued its downward trend, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Registrations fell by 16.6%, while diesel’s share of new vehicle registrations dropped from 9.5% last year to just 7.6% across the European Union.
Source: ACEA
Photo: AI
English
Serbian
