Electrified vehicle demand lifts Europe car sales 7% in April; Chinese brands extend market share

Europe's car registrations rose 7% year-on-year to 1,152,315 vehicles in April 2026, driven by a surge in electrified models, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association on May 27. Battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles climbed about 21% and accounted for more than two-thirds of total registrations, while petrol and diesel demand fell 15% and 17%, respectively. Chinese automakers gained significant ground. BYD registrations more than doubled to 27,008 units, a 114.5% jump, while Chery's soared about 322%. Tesla also extended its recovery with a 46.5% rise to 10,654 vehicles. Among legacy carmakers, Volkswagen increased 3.5%, Stellantis 6.7%, BMW 2.4% and Mercedes-Benz 7%, but Renault declined 3.6%. For the January-April period, total registrations were up 4.8%. Battery-electric vehicles saw particularly strong gains in Italy (up about 73%), France (48%) and Germany (41%), underscoring the policy-driven shift toward low-emission mobility.