EAFO Data Update: Strong growth in BEV registrations across Europe in Q1 2026 (preliminary)

The latest update of the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO), published on 16 April 2026, provides an early view of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market developments in the first quarter of the year. Based on the countries that have already reported complete data for January, February and March, the figures indicate a strong increase in registrations across most European markets.

Robust growth across major markets

Preliminary data for Q1 2026 shows that BEV registrations increased significantly year-on-year in the majority of countries analysed. Growth is particularly notable in large, high-volume markets:

• Italy recorded the strongest increase, with BEV registrations rising by approximately 66% compared to Q1 2025.
• France followed with a 51% increase, confirming continued strong uptake.
• Germany, the largest automotive market in Europe, saw registrations grow by over 40%.
• Spain also recorded growth of around 42%, reinforcing the positive trend in Southern Europe.

These countries account for a substantial share of total BEV registrations in the European Union, highlighting that the expansion is not limited to smaller markets but is driven by core automotive economies.

Broad-based momentum across Europe

Beyond the largest markets, the data points to widespread growth:

• Denmark and Ireland both recorded increases of around 40%.
• Finland saw a strong rise of approximately 44%.
• Portugal and Sweden also showed solid double-digit growth.

Outside the EU, growth trends remain positive in several key markets:

• The United Kingdom recorded an increase of around 15%.
• Switzerland also saw moderate growth.

At the same time, a limited number of countries recorded declines, including the Netherlands and Norway, indicating some market volatility in more mature BEV markets.

Early indication of continued market expansion

Overall, the preliminary Q1 data suggests that the transition towards zero-emission mobility continues to accelerate in 2026. The combination of strong growth in large markets and consistent expansion across smaller countries points to a resilient and broad-based uptake of BEVs across Europe.

However, these results should be interpreted with caution. Not all countries have reported complete March data yet, and the figures presented here are therefore preliminary. Further updates in the coming weeks will provide a more complete picture of the first quarter.

Download the data

A table with the calculated year-on-year changes in BEV registrations for Q1 2026 (based on countries with complete January–March data) is available for download:

• Download Q1 2026 BEV YoY change table (XLSX)

https://alternative-fuels-observatory.ec.europa.eu/transport-mode/road 

Users are encouraged to explore the full dataset and interactive tools available on the EAFO portal for more detailed country-level insights.

Source: European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO), data update of 16 April 2026.