23.10.2026
September marked another milestone for Europe’s electrification journey. New-car registrations across the EU28 increased by 10.4% year-on-year to 1.36 million units, while BEV registrations surged by 60.0% to 415,157 units, lifting battery-electric market share from 21.1% to 30.5%. For the first time, BEVs accounted for more than three out of every ten new cars registered across Europe.
Electrification growth was not limited to BEVs. PHEV registrations rose by 25.3% to 165,741 units, while HEVs increased by 7.6% to 177,764 units. Mild hybrids continued to represent a major part of the market, posting 285,201 registrations (+1.7%).
Meanwhile, traditional combustion vehicles continued their decline. Registrations fell by 20.6% to 302,196 units, reducing their market share to just 22.2%, well below the share achieved by BEVs. On a year-to-date basis, BEV registrations are now up 41.8%, while combustion vehicles have declined by 19.3%, highlighting the accelerating pace of the market transition.
The strongest-performing BEVs in September were the Tesla Model Y with 41,588 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model 3 with 27,132 units. The Skoda Elroq, Renault 5, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo EX30, BMW iX3, and the new Mercedes CLA EV all delivered exceptionally strong performances.
Chinese-owned brands continued to gain momentum, recording 72,034 registrations, up 76% year-on-year. BYD, MG, XPENG, Polestar, Smart, and Zeekr remained among the key growth drivers.
September benefited from a combination of strong fleet activity, increasing private demand for electrified vehicles, and a growing number of competitive BEV launches. The result was one of the strongest months of the year for Europe's automotive market.
The month's standout story was the continued expansion of the electric vehicle market. With over 415,000 BEVs registered, September became one of the highest-volume electric vehicle months ever recorded in Europe and pushed BEV penetration above the 30% threshold for the first time.
Growth is no longer being carried by a few early adopters. Established manufacturers are now competing directly with new challengers across virtually every vehicle segment, from compact city cars to premium SUVs. New entries such as the Renault Twingo, Cupra Raval, Kia EV2, Toyota C-HR+, Volkswagen ID. Polo, and the latest generation of Chinese EVs are broadening the appeal of electric mobility throughout the region.
The competitive landscape is also becoming increasingly global. Chinese-owned brands represented more than 72,000 registrations in September and continue to strengthen their position through a combination of BEVs, PHEVs and hybrid vehicles. Particularly strong performances came from BYD, XPENG, MG, Volvo, Smart, and Zeekr.
Tesla dominated September's new vehicle registrations, with the Model Y and Model 3 taking the top two positions. Combined, they accounted for more than 68,000 units, and the Model Y shot up from sixth place in last month's table. Volkswagen continued it's recent strong performance, with three models in the top ten, while Dacia's Sandero also showed sustained high sales, splitting the Volkswagens Golf and Tiguan - these VWs sitting in third and fifth places respectively.
Volkswagen remained Europe's largest automotive brand group force in September. The group enjoyed strong performances from the Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan, T-Roc, Skoda Elroq, Skoda Enyaq, Audi A3, Cupra Formentor, and Cupra Raval, while also strengthening its position in the BEV market.
Tesla delivered one of its strongest months of the year. The Model Y remained Europe's best-selling BEV with more than 41,500 registrations, while the Model 3 added over 27,000 units, giving the brand a clear lead in the electric rankings.
Skoda continued its impressive growth trajectory. The Elroq finished as Europe's third-best-selling BEV overall, while strong performances from the Enyaq, Octavia, Kodiaq, and Kamiq helped reinforce the brand's position among Europe's highest-volume manufacturers.
Mercedes-Benz was another standout performer. The new CLA EV, together with the GLC EV and GLB EV, delivered significant volume and highlighted the brand's growing competitiveness in the premium electric segment.
Among Asian brands, Kia continued to build momentum through the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5, while Toyota strengthened its electric credentials with the C‑HR+ and expanded bZ line-up.
Chinese manufacturers also posted another month of remarkable growth. BYD registered nearly 20,000 units in September, while XPENG exceeded 5,200 registrations. Rapid expansion from Jaecoo, Omoda, and Zeekr further demonstrates that Chinese brands are becoming increasingly relevant players in the European market.
Steffen Michulski, Regional Consultant Europe at JATO Dynamics, comments: "September left little room for debate: Europe’s market is now running on electric momentum. BEVs didn’t just grow, they smashed through the 30% share barrier while combustion slipped further into retreat. The race is no longer about convincing buyers to go electric; it’s about who can win them over once they’re there.”
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For full rankings, detailed analysis or media enquiries please contact Laura Cameron: laura.cameron@jato.com
About JATO
Founded in 1984, JATO Dynamics is the world’s leading provider of automotive market intelligence. Operating across more than 50 markets worldwide, JATO delivers accurate data and insights on vehicle specifications, pricing, sales and registrations, powering data-driven decisions across the global automotive industry.
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