EVs outsold internal combustion cars in Europe for the first time ever
For the first time on record, electric vehicles (EVs) have surpassed gasoline-powered passenger cars in Europe. This marks an important milestone for EVs that are poised to take over the continent in the coming decade.
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association shows that more than 300,000 EVs were registered in December 2025, enough to surpass traditional gas models. By comparison, gasoline car sales fell by almost 20% year on year.
Adding to the importance of this achievement is the European Union’s proposed ban on internal combustion engines by 2035. The ban is not final, though, and there are suggested adjustments, such as accommodating vehicles running on synthetic fuels.
Across the whole European continent, a total of 308,955 fully electric vehicles were registered in December. That figure represents an increase of more than 50% compared with the same month a year earlier. Counting only the EU, registrations reached 217,898 units, reflecting a similar growth rate.
The rapid rise follows years of automakers expanding their electric portfolios in the continent. There has been significant regulatory pressure on emissions limits, encouraging automakers to widen their range of lower-priced EVs. This change has expanded the availability of electric vehicles to a wider range of drivers, giving mainstream buyers far more choice than before.
Even though EVs are gaining popularity, hybrid vehicles remain the clear leader in Europe. In December, 380,921 hybrids were registered across the continent, including 324,799 units within the EU. Growth in this category slipped into single digits, rising 5.8% the EU, signaling that EVs might soon surpass Hybrids too. In the fourth place, plug-in hybrids registered 123,460 units in Europe, up 35.8% year over year.
Internal combustion vehicles continue to lose ground. Gasoline-powered cars saw 216,492 new registrations in the EU, nearly 20% fewer than in 2024. The once-dominant diesel vehicles also lost ground, with just over 70,000 registrations in the month, a 23.1% drop from a year earlier.
