BYD's Impressive Growth#

Chinese automaker BYD has seen a remarkable increase in its car sales within the European Union, more than tripling its numbers in the first two months of 2026. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), BYD registered 29,291 vehicles from January to February, a significant rise of 179.2% compared to 10,491 vehicles during the same period last year.

Electric Vehicle Market Trends#

This surge comes as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) captured 18.8% of the EU car market, even as overall car registrations dipped slightly by 1.2% year-on-year, totaling 1,664,680 units. In total, BEVs accounted for 312,369 registrations, marking a 22.3% increase from 255,463 in early 2025, when they held a 15.2% market share.

Hybrid and Traditional Vehicles#

Hybrid-electric vehicles continue to lead as the most popular type of car, with 643,898 units registered, which represents 38.7% of the market. Plug-in hybrids also saw growth, reaching 162,751 units, or 9.8% of registrations, up from 7.4% a year earlier. This growth was particularly strong in Italy, where registrations more than doubled.

Meanwhile, the combined share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell to 30.6%, down from 38.7% a year prior. Petrol registrations dropped by 23.3% to 374,774 units, while diesel registrations decreased by 17.7%, now accounting for just 8.1% of new registrations.

Performance of Major Markets#

Among the largest EU markets for battery-electric cars, France saw a 38.5% increase, and Germany experienced a 26.3% rise. However, the Netherlands and Belgium faced declines in registrations. Notably, France also recorded the steepest drop in petrol vehicle registrations, falling by 48.5%.

Manufacturer Insights#

In terms of manufacturer performance, Stellantis achieved a 9.5% increase in sales, totaling 304,251 units. Volkswagen Group, the market leader, saw a slight decline of 0.7% to 449,294 units. Other manufacturers like Renault Group and Dacia experienced significant drops, while Tesla reported a 16.7% increase in registrations. Jaguar, on the other hand, registered no vehicles during this period, a stark contrast to 446 units a year earlier.