Sales of fully electric vehicles in Europe’s major auto markets rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, increasing by nearly one-third as drivers shifted away from combustion engines following a surge in petrol prices linked to the war in Iran.
New battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations—a key indicator of sales—climbed 29.4% year on year to almost 560,000 units in the quarter, according to data from E-Mobility Europe and research firm New Automotive. In March alone, registrations jumped 51.3% to more than 240,000 across 15 European markets.
The region’s five largest EV markets—Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland—have seen BEV sales grow by over 40% so far this year, the report said. It also estimated that electric vehicles accounted for 21.2% of all new car registrations in the EU and European Free Trade Association in March.
