Europe’s truck market weakened through the first nine months of 2025, while bus demand showed signs of recovery, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Electric models continued to expand their footprint, led by Switzerland in battery-electric truck adoption and Germany in electric bus registrations.
ACEA data showed total truck registrations across the European Union fell 9.8% year-on-year between January and September, while bus registrations rose 3.6%. Although fossil-fuel vehicles still dominate, electric trucks and buses are gaining market share. Battery-electric trucks accounted for 3.8% of new EU registrations, up from 2.1% a year earlier, and reached 4.4% when including EFTA countries and the United Kingdom. Electric buses captured 22.7% of the EU market and 24.8% when the broader European region is considered—meaning one in four new buses sold in Europe is electric.
See also: Netherlands to Reopen Zero-Emission Truck Purchase Subsidy in January 2026
Across the EU, 225,483 new trucks over 3.5 tonnes were registered in the first nine months, with heavy-duty models declining 9% and medium-duty trucks dropping 13.5%. Major markets including Germany (-17.9%) and France (-13.4%) posted double-digit declines. Diesel vehicles still represented 93.5% of truck sales, but electric trucks reached a 3.8% share. In the medium-duty category, electric trucks already made up 14.1% of sales, with 5,384 registered during the period—up 90% from a year earlier. Germany led with 2,260 units, followed by the Netherlands (853 units, +736%) and Sweden (422 units, +817%).
In the heavy-duty segment, 3,200 electric trucks were registered out of roughly 187,300 total, giving the category a 1.7% share. Germany again led with 900 units (+19%), followed by France (568, +41%) and the Netherlands (556, +46%). Cyprus was the only EU member without any heavy-duty electric truck registrations, ACEA noted.
See also: Truckmakers Urge EU to Ease CO2 Rules Amid Infrastructure Delays and Cost Pressures
Switzerland recorded the highest share of electric trucks in Europe at 18.9%, with 614 units registered between January and September, up 72% from last year. Nearly one in five new trucks sold in the country was electric. The Netherlands followed closely with a 16.8% share (1,409 units, +192%), while Belgium, Italy and Sweden also posted strong triple-digit growth.
The bus sector, by contrast, continued its steady shift toward electrification. Of the 28,417 new buses registered in the EU in the first three quarters (+3.6%), 6,444 were rechargeable—representing a 22.7% share, up from 15.9% a year earlier. Electric bus registrations rose 49% on average, driven by Germany (1,202 units, +108%), Sweden (+684%) and Belgium (+389%). Romania and Lithuania also saw notable increases.
See also: ICCT Study: Europe to Require Up to 5,300 Megawatt Chargers for Electric Trucks by 2030
Hybrid bus registrations fell 32.7% to a 6.3% share, while diesel models remained dominant at 64.2%. Across the continent, the UK retained its lead with 2,117 new electric buses registered (+50%), helping lift the combined EU, EFTA and UK electric bus share to a record 24.8%.
