New car registrations across the European Union, the EFTA bloc and the United Kingdom increased 3.6% on the year in May to reach 1.15 million vehicles, industry figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) on Tuesday show.
The rise was propelled by a substantial increase in electrified models. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations climbed 39.1% to 268,487 units, while plug-in hybrid sales were up 13.2% year-on-year. These gains offset significant declines in conventional fuel models, with petrol registrations down 19.1% and diesel registrations down 19.0% over the same period.
Among major brands, Tesla recorded one of the fastest rates of expansion. Registrations of Tesla vehicles across the EU, EFTA and UK rose 107.9% in May to 28,610 units, lifting the company’s market share to 2.5% from 1.2% a year earlier. On a year-to-date basis, Tesla registrations increased 57.2% to 118,068 units.
Chinese automakers continued to deepen their presence in Europe. BYD saw May registrations surge 136.6% to 32,380 vehicles, increasing its market share to 2.8% from 1.2% a year earlier. BYD’s sales for the first five months of 2026 rose 145.2% to 135,307 units.
Other Chinese brands reported even more pronounced percentage gains in May. Chery Automobile posted the fastest growth among major manufacturers, with registrations jumping 244.1% to 27,412 units. Leapmotor’s registrations climbed 465.1% in May.
Implications for markets and sectors
- The shift toward electrified vehicles is supporting growth in the EV segment of the automotive market while weighing on conventional petrol and diesel sales.
- Rapid expansion by Tesla and multiple Chinese automakers is reshaping market share dynamics in Europe.
- Automotive suppliers and related sectors tied to electric drivetrains and battery systems are likely to see continued demand pressure consistent with higher BEV volumes.
Data sources and scope
The figures cover registrations reported to ACEA for the EU, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom and were released by ACEA on Tuesday. The article reports year-on-year percentage changes and absolute unit counts as published.