The Automotive Update: A closer look at key European new-car markets
11 June 2026
As Europe’s major new-car markets approach the second half of 2026, how did they fare in May? Which ones are on track for success in 2026? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus reveals all in the Automotive Update podcast.
Is the French new-car market becoming reliant on one powertrain? Will the UK meet its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets? Plus, in the wake of new incentives, is a registration spike expected in Germany? Find out in this latest episode.
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French new-car market bouncing back?
According to the latest data from PFA and AAA Data, the French new-car market saw a 3.7% lift in volumes in May. This marked the second monthly increase, following a minimal loss in April.
For the second consecutive month, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) volumes grew. Deliveries were up 92.7% in May, equating to 18,001 extra BEVs joining French roads. This helped offset losses across petrol, diesel, hybrids, including both full and mild variants, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Aided by incentives and a round of social leasing, between January and May BEV registrations were up 55.4%. This equated to an extra 66,239 units, based on Autovista24 calculations. Recent trends suggest that BEV adoption can offset losses elsewhere, guiding the overall market towards sustained growth. However, pinning hopes on one powertrain does bring risks.
UK new-car targets
The UK new-car market witnessed a 7.1% registration increase in May. This extended its run of year-on-year improvements into six successive months. Between January and May, deliveries increased by 8.7%.
BEVs achieved a 34.2% year-on-year registrations lift, carving out a 27.3% share of the market. Despite consistent increases, the current all-electric market share of 23.9% remains below the ZEV mandate target of 33% for 2026.
Germany’s new EV incentives kick off
Germany’s new-car market grew just 0.1% in May. In total, 239,448 new vehicles took to the country’s roads, according to the latest KBA data.
Electric vehicle (EV) registrations, including BEVs and PHEVs, increased by 28.8%, reaching 87,890 units. All-electric cars led this uplift, rising 39.3%, and pushing the overall EV market share to a healthy 36.7%.
The German government’s new EV incentive scheme offers income-based grants for private buyers and is retroactive to January. Amid building EV sales growth, early signs suggest incentives are reinforcing rather than driving the trend.
With €3 billion in funding targeting 800,000 vehicles by 2029, the scheme is aimed at fostering stability, rather than a short-term spike. Its retroactive structure should help prevent delays in consumer purchases, supporting consistent growth.
Meanwhile, petrol and diesel registrations witnessed steep declines and hybrids slowed, mirroring wider EU trends.
