BERLIN, Germany / AsiaWire.IO / – Global registrations of battery-electric vehicles rose 12% in the first nine months of 2026 to a record 11 million, driven by strong growth in Europe, according to a study by consultancy PwC. Europe accounted for 2.5 million electric cars, an increase of 42% on the previous year. In Germany, new electric vehicle registrations jumped 58% to 604,000. That placed Germany third worldwide and narrowed its gap with the United States, the second-largest market.
US registrations of battery-electric vehicles fell 29% to around 746,000 over the same period. In China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market, growth stalled, with registrations remaining at around 6 million, PwC said. The figures come from the latest Electric Vehicle Sales Review by PwC Autofacts, which tracks new registrations in 43 markets. The study was published on October 29.
In the third quarter alone, a record 4.3 million battery-electric vehicles were registered worldwide. In Europe’s five largest car markets, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, BEV registrations rose 66% from a year earlier. They topped 600,000 in a single quarter for the first time, and their market share reached a record 27%. Sales of cars with pure combustion engines fell 27% and dropped below a 25% share.
Germany reaches a turning point
German BEV sales reached a record of around 236,000 units in the third quarter. For the first time, battery-electric cars took a larger market share, at 32%, than conventional combustion-engine cars at 29%. All electrified drive types grew during the quarter, while combustion engines continued to lose ground. Carmakers are also expanding their electric plans, with Renault recently setting out an investment plan of more than €10 billion in France.
Harald Wimmer, partner and global automotive leader at PwC Germany, said the data showed a market breakthrough for the electric car, with the introduction phase now complete. He said sharply higher fuel prices were acting as a catalyst in Europe. Within about two years, every second new car sold in Europe could be electric, he said. PwC said in July that oil prices had risen by about 30% since the conflict in the Gulf region began in late February.
China accelerates as US slips
In China, the BEV share reached a record 49% in the third quarter. The country registered 2.5 million battery-electric vehicles, the highest volume ever recorded for a third quarter. The share of new energy vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, stayed above 65% each month and reached almost 66% in September. PwC said China was setting the pace of the technology shift.
The United States moved against the global trend after federal incentives expired in the third quarter of 2025. Its BEV market share fell to 6% in the third quarter, while hybrid sales rose 26% to 649,000 vehicles. Tesla deliveries had already fallen at the end of 2025. PwC said battery-electric cars still offer clear energy cost advantages over petrol and diesel models in Germany, the US and China.