The latest registration figures highlight contrasting trends across Europe’s automotive industry. Hybrid vehicles remained the most popular powertrain, battery-electric vehicles recorded strong growth, and several Chinese manufacturers significantly increased their presence despite established brands maintaining the highest sales volumes.
The data, published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), also shows notable differences in performance among Europe’s largest national markets, as well as shifting fortunes for several major automotive groups.
Europe’s New-Car Market Returns to Growth in May
According to ACEA, registrations across the European Union, EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), and the United Kingdom reached 1,152,523 vehicles in May 2026. That represented a 3.6 percent increase compared with the same month in 2025.
Within the European Union, registrations rose by 3.2 percent, while EFTA countries recorded a 1.4 percent increase. The United Kingdom posted growth of 3.6 percent.
Among Europe’s largest markets, Italy delivered the strongest performance with registrations rising 7.6 percent. France also finished the month in positive territory with a 3.7 percent increase, while Germany posted a marginal gain of 0.1 percent. Spain was the only major market to record a decline, with registrations slipping by 0.8 percent.
Over the first five months of 2026, Volkswagen Group remained the market leader with a 25.8 percent share of registrations. Stellantis followed with 15.5 percent, ahead of Renault Group at 9.2 percent.
The May sales figures showed Volkswagen Group registering 300,299 vehicles, down 3.0 percent from a year earlier. Stellantis recorded 164,958 registrations, a decline of 2.3 percent, while Renault Group delivered 110,124 vehicles, down 1.0 percent.
Electrified Vehicles Strengthen Their Position While Gasoline and Diesel Decline
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 20 percent of the European market between January and May 2026, with more than 950,000 registrations. That compares with a 15.3 percent market share during the same period a year earlier.
The strongest growth in battery-electric registrations came from Italy, where volumes increased by 75.7 percent. France followed with a 55.4 percent increase, while Germany recorded growth of 40.9 percent.
Hybrid vehicles remained the most popular powertrain, reaching a market share of 37.8 percent with nearly 1.8 million registrations. Plug-in hybrids also expanded, accounting for 9.7 percent of the market after strong growth that was driven largely by Italy, where registrations rose by 84.9 percent.
Traditional internal combustion powertrains continued to lose market share. Gasoline registrations declined by 18.2 percent, reducing their share to 22.4 percent of the market. Diesel registrations fell by 16.6 percent, leaving diesel with a 7.6 percent market share.
Combined, gasoline and diesel vehicles represented 30.1 percent of new-car registrations in the European Union, compared with 38 percent over the same period in 2025.
Across all powertrains between January and May 2026, hybrids totaled 1,795,071 registrations, ahead of gasoline vehicles with 1,065,071 registrations. Battery-electric vehicles reached 950,521 registrations, while plug-in hybrids totaled 460,217. Electrified vehicles as a whole, combining battery-electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, represented 67.5 percent of the market with 3,205,809 registrations.
Chinese Brands and Tesla Post Strong Gains While Several Established Manufacturers Decline
According to ACEA, several Chinese automakers continued to expand rapidly in Europe during the first five months of 2026.
BYD increased registrations by 145.2 percent overall and by 136.6 percent across the EU, EFTA countries, and the United Kingdom. Chery recorded growth of 316 percent overall and 244.1 percent in the wider European market. Leapmotor posted the largest increase, rising by 552.9 percent overall and 465.1 percent across the EU, EFTA countries, and the UK. SAIC and Geely also recorded gains during the period.
Tesla also reported significant growth, with registrations increasing by 57.2 percent compared with the same period in 2025 and by 107.9 percent across the EU, EFTA countries, and the United Kingdom.
Among the manufacturers facing declines were Ford, whose registrations fell by 16.9 percent over the first five months of the year, Nissan, down 11.4 percent, and Mitsubishi, which declined by 42.9 percent.
The May sales table reflected similar trends. BMW Group registered 82,277 vehicles, up 4.1 percent, while Mercedes-Benz increased 0.6 percent to 56,185 units. Hyundai Group delivered 86,444 vehicles, down 2.4 percent, and Toyota Group registered 78,168 vehicles, a decline of 0.6 percent.
Among other manufacturers, Geely Group recorded 38,146 registrations, up 12.6 percent, SAIC Motor reached 30,527 units with a 13.9 percent increase, BYD registered 32,380 vehicles, up 136.6 percent, Tesla delivered 28,610 vehicles, up 107.9 percent, and Chery sold 27,412 vehicles, an increase of 244.1 percent.
Ford registered 25,290 vehicles in May, down 28.3 percent, while Nissan recorded 17,730 registrations, down 16.0 percent. Suzuki posted 13,965 registrations, up 2.2 percent, Mazda reached 12,597 units, up 6.2 percent, JLR recorded 10,086 registrations, down 0.7 percent, Leapmotor registered 9,945 vehicles, up 465.1 percent, Honda sold 5,695 vehicles, up 8.3 percent, and Mitsubishi finished the month with 2,260 registrations, a decline of 44.7 percent.
Within the major automotive groups, Fiat, Skoda, and Mini recorded notable increases during the period, while Peugeot, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, and Dacia posted declines.
