Battery-electric vehicle registrations in the European Union rose 72.9% year on year in September to 290,117 units, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Fully electric cars accounted for 29.9% of all new passenger car registrations during the month, as the EU automotive market recorded broader growth.
Total new passenger car registrations reached 971,048 in September, up 9.3% from the same month in 2025.
From January to September, the EU registered 1,931,465 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), an increase of 48.5% year on year. Their market share climbed to 22.7%, compared with 16.1% in the same period last year.
Germany and France Lead BEV Growth
Germany and France recorded particularly strong increases in electric car registrations in September. Germany registered 88,599 BEVs, up 94.7% year on year, giving electric cars a 34.5% market share. France recorded 65,243 registrations, an increase of 107.5%. Denmark registered 17,784 vehicles, up 36.9%.
For the first nine months of the year, Germany recorded 604,144 new electric cars, up 58.1%. France followed with 387,342 registrations, an increase of 79.1%, while Denmark registered 124,049, up 40.3%.
Belgium recorded 125,220 registrations over the same period, a 15.7% increase. Together, these four markets accounted for approximately 64% of EU BEV registrations.
Hybrids Remain the Largest Powertrain Category
Despite the rapid growth of fully electric cars, conventional hybrid vehicles remained the largest powertrain category in the EU market from January to September.
Registrations of mild and full hybrids reached 3,090,530, representing a 36.3% market share. Plug-in hybrid registrations increased 18.6% to 860,257, giving the category a 10.1% share.
Italy recorded particularly strong plug-in hybrid growth, with registrations rising 72.4% to 121,647 vehicles. Spain also posted an increase of 34.7%, while Germany’s registrations rose 13.7% to 247,489.
Petrol and diesel vehicles continued to lose ground. Petrol car registrations fell 19.1% to 1,802,078 in the first nine months, reducing their market share from 27.7% to 21.2%. Diesel registrations declined 19.5% to 602,206, with their share falling from 9.3% to 7.1%.
EV Growth Extends Beyond the EU
Electric car registrations also increased in European markets outside the EU. In Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, registrations rose 36.3% year on year to 27,115 in September. The United Kingdom recorded the same growth rate, with 99,201 registrations.
Across the combined EU, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and UK markets, September BEV registrations reached 416,433, up 59.9% year on year. For the first nine months, registrations totalled approximately 2.55 million, an increase of 41.9%.
Chinese Automakers Expand European Sales
Registration figures across all powertrains show continued growth for several Chinese automakers in the EU.
BYD registrations rose 111.4% year on year to 28,309 vehicles in September, bringing its nine-month total to 206,002, up 154.4%. Chery, including its Jaecoo, Jetour and Omoda brands, recorded 20,707 registrations in September, an increase of 223.8%. Its year-to-date total reached 137,003, up 246.5%.
SAIC, which owns the MG brand, increased September registrations by 24.8% to 22,978. Leapmotor posted one of the strongest increases, with registrations climbing 255.7% to 10,229 vehicles for the month and 393.6% to 72,760 in the first nine months.
Across the wider EU, EFTA and UK market, September registrations reached 49,953 for BYD, 52,801 for Chery, 41,987 for SAIC and 14,594 for Leapmotor. Their respective year-on-year increases were 98.7%, 185.5%, 23.7% and 323.9%.
The figures cover registrations across all powertrains for the individual manufacturers, rather than electric vehicles alone.
Overall, September’s results point to accelerating BEV adoption across Europe, alongside continued growth in hybrid vehicles and declining registrations of petrol and diesel cars. Chinese automakers are also expanding their presence, adding to competition in an increasingly electrified market.