EU new-car registrations rise 5.7% in first half

Brussels – New EU car registrations rose by 5.7% year-on-year to just under 5.9 million units in the first half of 2026, with a strong performance in June, reported European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The gains, made against a backdrop of “persistent geopolitical headwinds,” were compounded by a strong June, which saw demand rise 13.6% year-over-year to more than 1.14 million units, ACEA said 23 July.

The market continued to benefit from “robust consumer demand” for a range of electrified technologies, driven primarily by market support measures, according to ACEA.

For the first six months, battery-electric cars held a 20.7% share of the EU market, up from 15.6% a year earlier.

Hybrid-electric car registrations captured 37.3% of the market, remaining the preferred choice among consumers in the EU.

At the same time, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 29.7%, compared with 37.8% a year earlier.