Sales of fully electric vehicles surged across Europe’s key automotive markets in the first quarter of 2026, as consumers increasingly shifted away from fuel-powered cars amid soaring gasoline prices triggered by the Iran war.
According to data from eMobility Europe and research firm New Automotive, registrations of new battery electric vehicles rose by 29.4 percent year-on-year, reaching nearly 560,000 vehicles. In March alone, registrations jumped 51.3 percent, surpassing 240,000 vehicles across 15 European markets.
Figures from ACEA show that these markets accounted for 94 percent of all electric vehicle sales within the European Union and the European Free Trade Association last year.
Chris Heron, Secretary General of eMobility Europe, described the March surge as a major milestone for energy security, noting that the shift away from oil dependence comes at a critical time of geopolitical strain.
A joint statement from the association and the research firm highlighted that the half a million electric vehicles registered during the quarter could cut oil consumption by approximately 2 million barrels annually.
The report also pointed to strong momentum in Europe’s five largest EV markets — Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland — where sales have grown by more than 40 percent so far this year.
