EV car sales 2026: what the numbers mean for dealers
EV car sales in Europe in 2026: new electric car registrations and market share by country, the used EV supply wave and how dealers should size EV stock.
· 6 min read
EV car sales in the EU reached 1,641,333 new battery-electric cars in January to August 2026, a 21.7% market share, up from 15.8% a year earlier, according to ACEA. Growth is strongest in Germany and France, and the used market follows with a delay of three to four years. For dealers this means more used EV supply each year and demand that differs sharply between countries.
How many electric cars are sold in Europe in 2026?
In the first eight months of 2026, 1,641,333 new battery-electric cars were registered in the EU, 44.9% more than a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Their share of all new cars rose to 21.7%. Including the EFTA countries and the United Kingdom, BEV registrations reached about 2.13 million.
The pace accelerated in late summer. In August 2026 alone, 196,486 new BEVs were registered in the EU, 27.7% of the 708,211 new cars that month, and 62.7% more than in August 2025.
For context, ACEA reported 1,880,370 new BEVs and a 17.4% share in the EU for the whole of 2025. At the current pace, 2026 will clearly exceed that volume.
EV car sales versus hybrids, petrol and diesel
The 2026 new-car market shows a fast shift away from pure combustion engines, with hybrids as the biggest group and electric cars growing fastest. ACEA's January to August 2026 shares for the EU:
| Powertrain | Share Jan–Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hybrid-electric (full and mild) | 36.6% |
| Battery-electric | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 21.7% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 10.0% |
| Diesel | 7.3% |
Petrol and diesel combined fell to 29%, from 37.5% a year earlier. Plug-in hybrid registrations rose by 19.6% to 758,082.
For the used market, the diesel figure matters as much as the electric one: today's three-year-old diesels came from a much larger new-car cohort than tomorrow's will. Our article on diesel vehicle demand in used stock looks at what that means for buying.
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Request accessWhich European countries have the highest EV share?
Norway has by far the highest EV share in Europe: battery-electric cars took 97.8% of new car registrations there between January and August 2026, and 98.7% in August, according to the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). Within the EU, the Nordic countries, the Netherlands and Belgium have long had the highest shares, while Germany and France now contribute the largest volumes.
ACEA's 2026 figures show where growth comes from:
- Germany: 515,545 new BEVs in January to August, up 53.1%;
- France: BEV registrations up 74.2%;
- Denmark: up 40.9%.
Large parts of Southern and Central Eastern Europe remain well below the EU average. That gap is the basis for cross-border used EV trade.
How are used EV sales developing?
Used EV supply is growing quickly because the large new-car cohorts of 2021 to 2023 are now returning from leases and company fleets. Our own data shows how uneven that supply is. According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, the share of battery-electric cars among used cars first registered in 2021 or later was:
| Country | EV share of used listings (2021 or newer) |
|---|---|
| Norway | 63.8% |
| Sweden | 23.4% |
| Austria | 23.3% |
| Netherlands | 21.4% |
| France | 15.1% |
| Belgium | 14.1% |
| Germany | 12.4% |
| Spain | 11.5% |
| Czech Republic | 8.1% |
| Italy | 5.7% |
| Poland | 4.7% |
| Slovakia | 4.0% |
These are shares of listed cars in our database, not registration statistics, and coverage differs between countries. The pattern is still clear: in Northern and Western Europe, young used EVs are already a large share of what is on offer, while in Italy, Poland and Slovakia they remain a small niche.
Two consequences for dealers:
- Price pressure in high-supply markets. Where EVs make up a fifth of young used stock, buyers have a lot of choice and prices are competitive.
- Opportunity in low-supply markets. Where few young EVs are listed, a well-chosen import can stand out, provided local demand exists.
Should dealers increase used EV stock in 2026?
Most dealers in Western and Northern Europe should carry a meaningful share of used EVs in 2026, roughly in line with their local market, while dealers in low-EV markets should stock selectively and prove demand first. A simple way to size it:
- Look at your local used market. If EVs are 15–20% of young used listings around you, a stock with no EVs misses part of the market.
- Check your own enquiries. How many buyers ask about EVs, hybrids or company-car tax?
- Start with mainstream models with good range, fast charging and a large service network.
- Test every battery and show the state of health in the advert; see our EV battery health check guide.
- Keep stock turn tight. Used EV prices still move faster than combustion cars when new-car prices change.
Our article on whether dealers should stock used electric cars covers margins and pricing in detail.
Where EV prices and taxes move demand
EV demand depends heavily on taxes and incentives, which change from year to year. Company-car taxation, registration taxes and purchase incentives make EVs more or less attractive country by country, and changes often move used prices within weeks. Norway is the clearest example of a policy shift: its VAT exemption for electric cars was limited to the first NOK 300,000 of the price from 2026, with the threshold falling to NOK 150,000 in 2027 and the exemption ending in 2028.
Track the rules in the countries where you buy and sell; our overview of electric car tax in Europe is a starting point. When you buy an EV in one country to sell in another, compare the price in both markets on the day you bid. MyCarDealer shows the market price of a car in your country from current listings and the margin after VAT and transport; you can test it with one free valuation.
Frequently asked questions
How many electric cars are sold in Europe in 2026?
According to ACEA, 1,641,333 new battery-electric cars were registered in the EU from January to August 2026, a 21.7% share of the market. Including EFTA countries and the UK, the figure was about 2.13 million.
Which European countries have the highest EV share?
Norway leads by far, with 97.8% of new cars battery-electric from January to August 2026. Within the EU, the Nordic countries, the Netherlands and Belgium have high shares, while Germany and France contribute the largest volumes and the fastest growth in 2026.
How are used EV sales developing?
Used EV supply is rising as 2021–2023 lease and fleet cars return. In listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, electric cars made up about a fifth of young used cars in Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands, but under 6% in Italy, Poland and Slovakia.
Should dealers increase used EV stock in 2026?
In markets where EVs already make up a large share of young used cars, yes, focusing on mainstream models with tested batteries and quick stock turn. In low-EV markets, stock selectively and check local demand first.
What share of new cars in the EU are petrol or diesel in 2026?
From January to August 2026, petrol cars took 21.7% and diesel cars 7.3% of new registrations in the EU, together 29%, down from 37.5% a year earlier. Hybrids were the largest group at 36.6%.