EVs Account for Nearly 20% of European Car Sales in January, Surpassing Combined PHEV and Diesel for First Time

In January 2026, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 19.7% of new car sales in Europe—nearly one in every five new cars sold—marking a significant increase from 16.7% in January 2025. The statistics cover the 27 EU member states as well as key markets including the UK and Norway. BEV sales that month surpassed the combined share of plug-in hybrids (10.4%) and diesel vehicles (7.2%). Hybrid vehicles still held the largest market share at 38.5%, while conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles dropped to 22.5%. Volkswagen remained the top-selling electric vehicle brand with 17,230 units sold, driven primarily by the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.7 models; Renault and Škoda ranked second and third, respectively. Despite accelerating electrification, vehicles powered solely by fossil fuels still accounted for roughly 80% of the market. Under pressure from the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standards and the EU’s target to cut CO₂ emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 2021 levels), automakers are accelerating their transition toward electrification. Continued policy support and declining costs are expected to further drive decarbonization in Europe’s automotive market.