AB’'s new car market continued to grow steadily in the first four months of 2026, with approximately 3.8 million vehicles registered, compared to the same period in 2025. %It increased by 4.2. This is according to data released on Wednesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
The numbers point to a market increasingly dominated by electric and hybrid vehicles, thanks to government incentives in major economies and growing competition from Chinese automakers.
According to ACEA’, between January and April 2026, battery-powered electric cars will be .7Created ’sini; This rate compared to the previous year %It was 15.3’. The growth was mainly driven by the bloc's four largest markets; from Italy (+,5), Spain (+,7), Germany (+%6,6) and France (+%2.3) recorded a profit.
Only in April, battery electric vehicle sales in AB’ compared to the same month last year .7 increase in market share for the month %He went up to 20.6’.
Hybrid electric vehicles in April %It continued to be the most popular single powertrain choice with 12 increases, with monthly sales of approximately %He made up his 36.9’.
Category: Plug-in hybrids %Increasing by 16.4 on April records %He received a share of 9.8’.
On the other side of the notebook are gasoline vehicle registrations. creased by 16.3 to 218,500 units, while diesel vehicle registrations also declined %It declined by 17.1 to around 74,000.
Gasoline and diesel cars accounted for less than 30 percent of vehicles sold across the EU in April.
2026 performance of European brands
Volkswagen Group retained its position as the bloc's largest automaker in the first four months of 2026, and %All new registrations with just over a million sales with an increase of 2.9 .7’sini formed.
However, performance varied across the group. Sales of ŠKODA %Audi increased by 15.5 %While it gained 8.6 percent in value, the main Volkswagen brand %With 3.2 losses, it lost value in many segments.
Stellantis, Fiat’taki For recovery and registrations over ’ increased Opel and VauxhallInfluenced by strong gains in ’ %With a strong increase of 7.8’ %It ranked second with a market share of 17.1 and more than 648,000’ units.
the Renault Group creased by 7.4 to approximately 384,250 units %With a market share of 10.1’, it was the group with the weakest performance in the top third; The Dacia is %It recorded a sharp decline of more than 15’.
BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz respectively %3.9 and %While earning 3.8 percent, Toyota and Hyundai Group %With a 2.5 %It recorded modest declines of 3.1.
The Chinese Fluctuation
The most important trend in April data was the continuation of the rise of Chinese car manufacturers.
According to ACEA figures, BYD’'s EU records have more than doubled year-on-year in the first four months of 2026’ %It increased by 152.9 to over 71,850 units.
Through the Chery Automobile, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour brands %Leapmotor, which distributes through its joint venture with Stellantis, increased by 267.1 to more than 48,350 units. %It increased by 558.8 to over 28,700 units.
SAIC Motor, which owns the MG brand and is the largest Chinese group by EU volume, %It increased by 10.4 to over 77,000 units.
Chinese brands have registered approximations of EU automobile registrations between January and April 2026. %6In the same period of the previous year, when forming the ’, this ratio %It was 3.2’. The total market share of Chinese brands in the wider European market, including the United Kingdom and EFTA countries, was %3.7’den during the same period roughly %Increased to 7.3’e.
