Europe electric cars outsold gasoline cars for the first time

Europe's automotive market has reached a historic turning point, according to Zamin.uz.

As of the end of May 2026, sales of fully electric vehicles surpassed those of gasoline-powered cars for the first time in terms of volume, signaling a gradual decline in the era of internal combustion engine technology in the region.

In the past month, electric vehicles accounted for 23.3% of the market in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and EFTA countries, while gasoline models held 21.7%. Overall, nearly 1.15 million new vehicles were registered in the region over the month—3.6 times higher than the same period last year.

Hybrids remain dominant, but interest in conventional engines is fading

Based on the first five months of the year, hybrid vehicles still lead the market with a 37.8% share. However, interest in traditional fuel-powered technologies is sharply declining.

From January to May, gasoline car sales in the EU fell by 18.2%, and diesel models dropped by 16.6%. Demand for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, especially in major economies.

For example, this figure rose to 75.7% in Italy, 55.4% in France, and 40.9% in Germany. These shifts reflect not only ecological demands but also growing consumer confidence in modern technologies.

Success of Tesla and Chinese brands

One of the main drivers of market growth has been Tesla. In May, the Tesla Model Y became the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe, with sales up 68% to 17,183 units.

The Tesla Model 3, in second place, nearly tripled its performance, selling 9,566 units. At the same time, Chinese automakers are actively expanding their presence in the European market.

In May, Chinese manufacturers sold over 121,000 vehicles, achieving a market share of 10.7% for the first time in history. The following brands showed the highest growth rates:

BYD increased sales by 145.2% to 135,307 units. Brands such as Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda, and Jetour grew by as much as 316%.

Leapmotor improved its sales performance by 552.9%. Xpeng recorded a 138% increase in May.

Although BYD overtook the SAIC brand in May to become the largest Chinese automaker in Europe, Geely Group still leads in overall performance for the first five months of the year.

This trend in Europe indicates that the electrification process in the global automotive industry has gained irreversible momentum.