Car registrations: Europe starts with a decline, but Italy grows
January marked a negative start for car registrations at the European level. The EU market recorded 961,382 automobiles, a 3.5% decline compared to the same month in 2025, according to the latest data released by Acea. The good news, however, is that electric and hybrid cars continue their ascent, and their numbers are becoming increasingly significant in Italy too. BEVs in Europe reached a 19.3% market share, up from 14.9% in the previous year. Electric hybrid cars, meanwhile, captured 38.6% of the market, remaining the preferred choice for consumers in the EU.
The rise of BEVs
Battery electric vehicles saw a significant leap forward, with 154,230 new units hitting European roads. The four largest EU markets, which together account for 60% of battery electric car registrations, reported mixed results:
- France and Germany drove growth with increases of +52.1% and +23.8%, respectively.
- In contrast, historically mature markets like Belgium (-11.5%) and the Netherlands (-35.4%) slowed down, suggesting local saturation or a restructuring of incentives.
Car registrations: hybrid at the top and the comeback of plug-ins
However, the true protagonist of the EU market remains the hybrid segment. Electric hybrid cars solidified their position as the preferred choice for consumers, capturing 38.6% of preferences with over 308,000 units. In this scenario, Italy played a leading role with a jump of +24.9%.
Even more surprising is the performance of plug-in hybrids. These cars, with their dual electric and internal combustion nature, accounted for 9.8% of the market and recorded impressive volumetric growth in key markets:
- Italy: +134.2%
- Spain: +66.7%
- Germany: +23%
The sunset of combustion-powered cars
While electrified vehicles advance, internal combustion engines are undergoing a significant contraction. The combined share of gasoline and diesel cars slipped to 30.1%, losing nearly 10 percentage points in a single year. The decline in gasoline is particularly evident: a -28.2% at the EU level, with France seeing its registrations almost halved (-48.9%). Diesel follows suit, dropping to a marginal 8.1% share, confirming its progressive disappearance from European citizens’ preferences and car lists.
Car registrations in Italy
In contrast, the Italian automotive market opened 2026 with a sign of moderate optimism in total volumes: with 141,993 new registrations, January 2026 closed with a +6.2% increase compared to the previous year. Data also showed a vertical growth for BEV and PHEV segments:
- Electric cars: With 9,423 units, the sector marked a +40.7% year-on-year increase. Market share rose to 6.6%, consolidating recovery after the uncertainties of 2025.
- Plug-in hybrids: The 11,638 registrations represented a jump of +134.2%, almost tripling volumes compared to the previous twelve months.
- Hybrids: With 74,422 units and a +24.9% growth, they now cover more than half of the total market.
- Gasoline: The decline was significant (-25.5%), with only 26,641 units.
- Diesel: The downward trend continued with a -16.2% and approximately 10,700 plates, reducing its relevance to historic lows.
- LPG: Contrary to past trends, the sector recorded a -34.0% decline, a sign of users shifting towards mild hybrids.
Car registrations: brand performance
Conversely, the Stellantis group had a positive start, closing January with a positive result, bucking the market trend: 164,436 cars sold, 6.7% more than in the same month last year.
Major automotive groups saw declines, particularly Tesla, which recorded a 17% drop, Renault with a 15% decrease, and Toyota with 13.4%. Volkswagen also lost ground (-3.8%), and Chinese manufacturer Saic slowed down (-1.8%). Chinese brand BYD grew with 18,242 registrations (+165%) and a market share increasing from 0.7% to 1.9%. Mercedes also saw positive growth (+2.8%).