Sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in Spain increased 43.1% year over year in October 2026, reaching 31,044 units. Their combined market share rose to 31.5%, marking the first time the two technologies have exceeded 31% of monthly passenger car registrations in Spain.
The increase contributed to continued growth in the country’s passenger vehicle market. New registrations reached 98,487 units in October, up 1.8% from the same month last year, according to data from the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC). It was the strongest October result since 2007 and extended the market’s growth streak to five consecutive months.
From January to October, passenger car registrations totaled approximately 1.01 million units, an increase of 6.2% year over year. Electrified vehicle sales reached 248,343 units over the same period, up 37.6%, representing 24.6% of the market.
Electrified Vehicles Account for Nearly One-Third of October Sales
The October figures indicate a continued shift toward plug-in vehicles in Spain. BEVs and PHEVs together represented almost one-third of new passenger car registrations, compared with a lower share in the same period last year.
For the first ten months of 2026, the two categories accounted for nearly one in four new passenger cars registered in the country.
ANFAC Director General José López-Tafall said both BEVs and PHEVs were gaining wider consumer acceptance. He described Spain’s transition toward electrification as accelerating but said policy continuity would be important for the country to catch up with the European average.
ANFAC Director of Communications and Marketing Félix García also highlighted the increasing contribution of electrified models to the market’s emissions performance.
“October has been a historic month as we have had the best monthly figure since 2008. We haven’t reached 100,000 units, but we came very close, even though last month had two fewer working days than in October 2025 because the October 12 holiday fell on a Sunday and was not moved to Monday in the Autonomous Communities with the highest sales volume.”
García said conventional hybrids continued to lead among powertrain technologies, while electrified model sales were contributing to lower average emissions.
“Regarding the technologies sold, it’s no longer news that the conventional hybrid reigns supreme. But another historic milestone was reached in October: for the first time, the year-to-date emissions figures for new passenger cars fell below 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Key to this success is the gradual increase in electrified new model sales, which continues to rise.”
Industry Groups Call for Continuation of Purchase Incentives
The outlook for electric vehicle incentives emerged as a key concern among industry representatives, particularly as the impact of Spain’s Auto+ Plan began to moderate.
Raúl Morales, communications director of FACONAUTO, said October registrations had slowed compared with September. He attributed the change partly to fewer working days, slower sales activity at dealerships and a reduced impact from the Auto+ Plan after its online application process launched in September.
He also noted that the budget available for subsidies was declining.
Morales called for greater clarity on whether support for electrified vehicles would continue in 2027.
“Therefore, we believe it is essential to have visibility regarding the continuation of aid for electrified vehicles in 2027, if we do not want to lose the positive effect they have had on this market.”
He added that manufacturers and dealerships were entering the final quarter with a broader commercial offering, making the period an opportunity for consumers considering a vehicle purchase.
Tania Puche, communications director of GANVAM, also called for incentives to remain in place beyond the current year. She said plug-in vehicles were approaching one-third of total registrations, reflecting the contribution of purchase support to changing consumer demand.
“Regarding powertrains, the progressive shift in the composition of demand continues, with plug-in models accounting for a third of the total, highlighting the effectiveness of purchase incentives. In this respect, it is important that these incentives remain in place and are not tied to election cycles to prevent administrative uncertainty from ultimately impacting purchasing decisions.”
Spain’s 2026 Market Outlook Exceeds 1.2 Million Vehicles
The market’s performance through October has strengthened expectations that Spain will exceed 1.2 million new passenger car registrations in 2026.
García said the market had already passed the one-million-unit threshold, supporting expectations of full-year sales above 1.2 million despite the election period at the end of the year.
“Regarding market closing forecasts for 2026, we have already exceeded one million units cumulatively, which allows all associations to believe that we will easily surpass 1.2 million despite being in the midst of an election period at the end of the year.”
Puche and Morales also maintained a positive outlook, while emphasizing the importance of continued support for electrified vehicle purchases.
The October results show that plug-in vehicles are becoming an increasingly significant part of Spain’s passenger car market. However, industry representatives say maintaining that momentum will depend partly on the continuity of government incentives and the availability of clear policy measures in 2027.
