EU passenger car registrations rose 13.6% year on year in June 2026 to a three‑month high of 1.15 million units, marking a fifth consecutive month of growth and a sharp acceleration from the 3.2% increase recorded in May. The market continued to be supported by strong consumer demand for a broad range of electrified technologies, underpinned largely by government and policy-based incentives.
The bloc’s four largest markets all posted solid gains: Germany (+15.7%), France (+11.4%), Italy (+10.6%), and Spain (+7.8%). Over the first half of 2026, new EU car registrations increased by 5.7%. The robust June performance helped deliver a positive result for H1 overall, despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds that continue to cloud the outlook.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 20.7% of the EU market in H1 2026, up from 15.6% a year earlier, underscoring the sustained momentum behind electrification. Three of the four largest markets—together representing 63% of total BEV registrations—recorded particularly strong growth: France (+62.9%), Germany (+48.0%), and Denmark (+41.2%).
