Brussels, Jan 27, 2026, 20:02 CET
- Battery-electric cars accounted for 22.6% of EU registrations in December, just edging out petrol vehicles at 22.5%, according to ACEA data.
- Hybrids continued to dominate, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all electrified vehicle registrations in December.
- EU car registrations for the full year 2025 increased by 1.8%, reaching 10.8 million, but remain under pre-pandemic figures.
In December, fully electric car sales in the European Union nudged past those of petrol-only vehicles for the first time, industry figures revealed Tuesday. Though hybrids still lead the market, this marks a notable milestone.
The timing is crucial as the EU’s push for cleaner cars clashes with political and economic pressures. Lawmakers are considering easing emissions standards to extend the life of combustion engines, all while debating how to maintain an edge against emerging competitors.
Automakers are racing to ramp up electric car sales without taking a hit on profits, even as Chinese brands make a stronger push into Europe amid rising trade tensions. On Tuesday, the Financial Times published a report detailing the December crossover.
Data from December reveals battery-electric vehicles—those running solely on batteries—accounted for 22.6% of EU car registrations, narrowly surpassing petrol cars at 22.5%. Hybrids led the pack, making up 44%, with plug-in hybrids capable of limited battery-only travel included in that figure.
Registrations serve as a stand-in for sales since they monitor new cars joining the fleet. Total EU registrations jumped 5.8% in December, nearing 1 million vehicles, and edged up 1.8% for 2025, reaching 10.8 million, the data revealed.
Registrations across the broader European market, covering Britain and the European Free Trade Association, climbed 7.6% in December to roughly 1.2 million cars, with a 2.4% rise in 2025 totaling 13.3 million, the data revealed. These were the strongest volumes seen in five years, yet they remain well under pre-pandemic figures.
In 2025, battery-electric cars made up 17.4% of all new registrations in the EU, rising from 13.6% the previous year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Hybrid-electric vehicles held 34.5% of the market. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel cars combined dropped to 35.5%, down from 45.2% in 2024.
ACEA reported that the EU registered 1,880,370 battery-electric cars in 2025. Registrations climbed in the bloc’s top four electric markets — Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France — with Germany leading the surge, posting a 43.2% rise.
Plug-in hybrids hit 1,015,887 registrations in 2025, capturing a 9.4% market share, according to ACEA. Petrol vehicle registrations dropped 18.7% that year, with significant declines in key markets like France and Germany.
Independent automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt noted that part of the drop in petrol sales comes from reclassifying cars as mild hybrids—vehicles that still run on petrol but include a small battery assist. “It will still take around half a decade before pure electric cars genuinely overtake combustion-engine models,” Schmidt said.
At the company level, the competition is heating up. Tesla’s registrations dropped 20.2% in December, whereas China’s BYD surged by 229.7%, the data revealed, as automakers like Volkswagen expand their electric lineup across Europe.
This could still backfire. If governments pull back on incentives, charging infrastructure stalls, or the EU loosens rules, buyers might stick with hybrids and cheaper gas models longer than officials anticipate — turning the December milestone into more of a hiccup than a sharp cutoff.
