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StocksMedium•22 October 2026•
2 min read

Electric car registrations jump 70.3% across 17 European markets in September

Key Facts

1Registrations of fully electric cars rose 70.3% in September 2026, according to data reported by Reuters.
2Fully electric car registrations reached 300,202, with a market share of 32.6% in the markets covered in September 2026.
3Hybrid-electric cars accounted for 36.6% of EU registrations during January–August 2026.
4The combined share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 29% during January–August 2026, compared with 37.5% in the corresponding period.
5Volkswagen said fully electric cars accounted for around 40% of its European order book.

Registrations of fully electric cars jumped 70.3% in September 2026, Reuters reported on 19 October, citing data from E-Mobility Europe, New AutoMotive and Fair Automotive. The increase covered 17 major European markets, in the latest sign of the growing presence of fully electric cars in new car registrations in the markets covered. A total of 300,202 fully electric cars were registered during the month, according to figures reported by the agency. Their market share reached 32.6% of registrations in these markets in September. Reuters cited higher oil prices, subsidies and the availability of cheaper models among the factors supporting demand for electric cars.

Against the broader market backdrop, total new passenger car registrations in the European Union rose 5.3% from January to August 2026, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. Hybrid-electric cars accounted for 36.6% of EU registrations over that period, retaining their position as the most popular choice among buyers, according to the association's statement on August data. Meanwhile, the combined share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 29% of the market. That share stood at 37.5% in the corresponding period from January to August 2025, reflecting the declining weight of the two categories in the European registration mix. The association described the market as operating "against a backdrop of rising energy prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainty". On the manufacturing side, EU car production fell 0.4% in the first half of 2026. In its economic and market report published on 12 October, the association said the EU car production landscape weakened slightly during that period, alongside the growth in registrations recorded by the market from the start of the year through August.

At the company level, Volkswagen Group said growth in its deliveries of fully electric cars in Europe accelerated to around 20% in the third quarter of 2026. In its October statement, the group added that fully electric cars now accounted for around 40% of its European order book, alongside growth in actual deliveries during the quarter. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association calendar scheduled the release of European passenger car registration data for September for 22 October. This will be followed on 29 October by Volkswagen's interim report for January to September 2026, according to the group's calendar, allowing investors to track the financial results accompanying the delivery trend. The association scheduled the release of October passenger car registration data for 24 November 2026.