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In April 2026 year-to-date (YTD), new EU car registrations increased by 4.2%, despite ongoing geopolitical factors that are heightening uncertainty and downside risks, according to the latest published data from The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. [aka ACEA at AutoInformed after its original French name].*
“The market continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for a range of electrified technologies, supported by new and revised tax benefits and incentive schemes across major European countries. Hybrid-electric vehicles lead as the most popular power type choice among buyers, while the battery-electric car market share reached 19.7%. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrids captured 9.6% of the market,” ACEA said.
Electric Cars Rising
During the first four months of 2026, 746,899 new battery-electric cars were registered, capturing 19.7% of the EU market. Three of the four largest EU markets, which together represented 64% of all battery-electric car registrations, posted strong growth: Italy (+73.1%), France (+48.2%), and Germany (+41.3%). By contrast, Belgium (+1.1%) experienced only subdued growth.
April 2026’s YTD figures also showed new EU hybrid-electric car registrations rising to 1,447,864 units, supported by growth in Italy (+25.5%) and Spain (+19.7%), with Germany (+6.6%) and France (+2.3%) also contributing positively. Overall, hybrid-electric models accounted for 38.2% of the total EU market.
Registrations of plug-in-hybrid electric cars continued to grow, reaching 364,067 units in the April 2026 YTD. This was driven by rising volumes in key markets such as Italy (+99.2%), Spain (+64.3%), and Germany (+17.6%). Therefore, new plug-in-hybrid electric cars now represent 9.6% of EU registrations, up from 7.9% over the same period in 2025.
Petrol and Diesel Cars Fading
By the end of April 2026, petrol car registrations declined by 17.7%, with decreases across all major markets. France recorded the sharpest drop, with registrations plummeting by 36.6%, whereas other key markets also saw double-digit decreases: Spain (-18.6%), Italy (-18%), and Germany (-17.2%).
“With 854,843 new cars registered in the last four months, the market share for petrol fell to 22.5% from 28.5% in April 2025 YTD. In addition, the diesel car market continued its downward trend, albeit at a slower pace, with registrations declining by 16.1% and accounting for 7.7% of new car registrations,” ACEA said.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
EU April 2026 Sales Dominated by Electrified Vehicles
Click for more.
In April 2026 year-to-date (YTD), new EU car registrations increased by 4.2%, despite ongoing geopolitical factors that are heightening uncertainty and downside risks, according to the latest published data from The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. [aka ACEA at AutoInformed after its original French name].*
“The market continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for a range of electrified technologies, supported by new and revised tax benefits and incentive schemes across major European countries. Hybrid-electric vehicles lead as the most popular power type choice among buyers, while the battery-electric car market share reached 19.7%. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrids captured 9.6% of the market,” ACEA said.
Electric Cars Rising
During the first four months of 2026, 746,899 new battery-electric cars were registered, capturing 19.7% of the EU market. Three of the four largest EU markets, which together represented 64% of all battery-electric car registrations, posted strong growth: Italy (+73.1%), France (+48.2%), and Germany (+41.3%). By contrast, Belgium (+1.1%) experienced only subdued growth.
April 2026’s YTD figures also showed new EU hybrid-electric car registrations rising to 1,447,864 units, supported by growth in Italy (+25.5%) and Spain (+19.7%), with Germany (+6.6%) and France (+2.3%) also contributing positively. Overall, hybrid-electric models accounted for 38.2% of the total EU market.
Registrations of plug-in-hybrid electric cars continued to grow, reaching 364,067 units in the April 2026 YTD. This was driven by rising volumes in key markets such as Italy (+99.2%), Spain (+64.3%), and Germany (+17.6%). Therefore, new plug-in-hybrid electric cars now represent 9.6% of EU registrations, up from 7.9% over the same period in 2025.
Petrol and Diesel Cars Fading
By the end of April 2026, petrol car registrations declined by 17.7%, with decreases across all major markets. France recorded the sharpest drop, with registrations plummeting by 36.6%, whereas other key markets also saw double-digit decreases: Spain (-18.6%), Italy (-18%), and Germany (-17.2%).
“With 854,843 new cars registered in the last four months, the market share for petrol fell to 22.5% from 28.5% in April 2025 YTD. In addition, the diesel car market continued its downward trend, albeit at a slower pace, with registrations declining by 16.1% and accounting for 7.7% of new car registrations,” ACEA said.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.