BERLIN, Germany / AsiaWire.IO / – Germany’s new electric vehicle registrations surged 58% to 604,000 in the first nine months of 2026, helping lift global battery-electric vehicle registrations to a record 11 million, according to PwC. Worldwide registrations rose 12% over the period, driven mainly by Europe. The consultancy said 2.5 million electric cars were sold in Europe since the start of the year, up 42%. Germany now ranks third worldwide and is closing in on the United States.
Registrations in the United States, the second-largest market, fell 29% to around 746,000. China, the world’s biggest electric vehicle market, saw growth stall, with registrations steady at around 6 million. The findings come from PwC Autofacts’ Electric Vehicle Sales Review, which covers new registrations in 43 markets. PwC published the latest edition on October 29.
Third-quarter data showed the shift accelerating. A record 4.3 million battery-electric vehicles were registered globally between July and September. In Germany, BEV sales reached around 236,000 units, also a record. Battery-electric cars took a 32% share of the German market, overtaking pure combustion-engine cars at 29% for the first time.
Europe’s top five markets surge
In Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, BEV registrations rose 66% year on year in the third quarter, passing 600,000 vehicles for the first time. Battery-electric cars reached a record 27% market share across the five markets. Sales of pure combustion-engine vehicles dropped 27%, with their share falling below 25%. More than three in four new cars in these markets are now electrified.
Harald Wimmer, global automotive leader at PwC Germany, said the introduction phase of the electric car was over. He said high fuel prices were acting as a catalyst in Europe and that every second new car sold there could be electric within about two years. Carmakers are expanding their electric plans, with Renault recently committing more than €10 billion to its EV push in France. PwC said high fuel costs, a wider range of models and subsidies in some markets are making EVs more attractive.
Running costs favour electric cars
PwC’s analysis found BEVs offer clear energy cost advantages over petrol and diesel vehicles in Germany, the US and China. In Germany, drivers with a high share of home charging can travel more than twice as far on an energy budget of €100 as with a comparable petrol car. Steven van Arsdale, global lead analyst at PwC Autofacts, said the economic case for electric vehicles was getting stronger. He added that lower running costs alone do not sell cars, and that product range, charging access and price remain decisive.
China’s BEV share hit a record 49% in the third quarter, with 2.5 million vehicles registered. In the US, the BEV share fell to 6% after federal incentives ended in the third quarter of 2025. Hybrid sales in the US rose 26% to 649,000 vehicles. The US record BEV share of 10%, set in the third quarter of 2025, remains out of reach for now.