Electrictrified cars, including battery-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, accounted for 68% of the EU market in the first four month of 2026, according to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
The group represents 17 major Europe-based car makers.
Battery-electric cars accounted for 19.7% of the EU market in the period, an increase from 15.3% a year earlier.
Hybrid-electric car registrations captured 38.2% of the market, remaining the preferred choice among consumers in the EU.
In Ireland, the market share of fully electric vehicles among new car sales was above the EU average at 22.3% so far this year, while plug-in-electric and hybrid electric accounted for 14.9% and 28.6% of the market respectively.
Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars declined across the EU to 30.2%, down from 38.1%.
Three of the four largest EU markets, Italy, France, Germany and Belgium, together represented 64% of all battery-electric car registrations.
New hybrid-electric car registrations rose to 1,447,864 units across the EU, supported by growth in Italy (+25.5%) and Spain (+19.7%).
Registrations of plug-in-hybrid electric cars continued to grow, reaching 364,067 units so far this year.
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%.
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.