Europe May 2026: BEVs up 39.1%, Chinese up 105.3%, Dacia Sandero now best-seller YTD

BYD sales are up 141.4% across Europe, the brand outsells Ford for the first time.

According to Dataforce, the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) edges up 3.4% year-on-year in May to 1,130,916 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 4.4% after 5 months to 5,818,184. ACEA has the market up 3.6% to 1,152,523 for the month and up 4.5% to 5,824,814 year-to-date. Once again Chinese manufacturers deliver the performance of the month, doubling their share YoY with sales up 105.3% to 111,636 and 9.9% share vs. 5% a year ago in May 2025. As a reminder, in May 2025 these carmakers were already up 111% on the year prior so we are really witnessing a long term surge. Among the Top 5 markets, Italy performs best at +7.6%, followed by the UK at +7.1% and France at +3.7%. Germany (+0.1%) is stable as is Spain (-0.8%). Looking at all countries, Malta (+52.7%) is the best performer, followed by Ireland (+38.1%), Estonia (+33.5%) and Slovenia (+20.2%). At the other end of the stick we have Iceland (-27.3%), Latvia (-6.5%) and Slovakia (-6.3%). 

In May BEVs continue to gain significant ground at +39.1% year-on-year to 268,487 and 23.3% share vs. 17.4% a year ago. Meanwhile PHEVs command 10.7% of the market vs. 9.8% in May 2025 thanks to sales up 13.2% to 123,339. Year-to-date, BEVs are up 31.2% to 1,247,545 and 21.4% share vs. 17.1% over the first 5 months of 2025. In terms of BEV volume, Germany dominates at 59,969 (+39.3%), followed by the UK at 43,931 (+34.2%), France at 37,412 (+92.7%), Norway at 15,210 (+13.6%), Denmark at 15,020 (+37.3%) and Italy at 13,274 (+86.5%). As for BEV market share, unsurprisingly Norway is the champion at 97.8%, ahead of Denmark (78.7%), Iceland (51%), Finland (48.8%), the Netherlands (41.3%), Sweden (41.2%), Belgium (37.4%) and Malta (36.4%). France is at 29.1%, the UK at 27.3%, Germany at 25%, Spain at 10.8% and Italy at 8.8%. Having not yet warmed to the charms of BEVs are Croatia (3.4%), Poland (4.1%), Estonia (5.1%), Latvia (5.2%) and Greece (5.9%).

The Dacia Sandero returns to the YTD pole position.

In the OEM ranking, the VW Group (-2.5%) slides slightly to just under 300,000 units. It is followed by Stellantis (-2.2%) performing similarly and Renault Group (-0.5%), stable. The BMW Group (+4.3%) is the only gainer in the Top 7, accessing to #4 vs. #5 year-to-date. Hyundai-Kia (-10.3%) suffers at #5, as the Toyota Group (-1.7%) and Mercedes (-4.6%) disappoint. In contrast the Geely Group is up 7.9% to #8 while BYD (+141.4%) spectacularly breaks into the Top 10 for the first time at #9. Chery (+243.2%), Tesla (+99.2%) and SAIC Motor (+15.2%) also shine below.

Looking at brands, the Top 4 are all in negative. Volkswagen (-3.7%) endures the largest loss, with Skoda (-0.9%), Toyota (-1%) and BMW (-1.6%) also down but containing their fall. Notably Skoda affirms its newfound ranking at #2 above Toyota, a position it has now held for the past 4 consecutive months. Renault (+0.6%) is stable while Audi (+4%) outpaces the overall market – just. The rest of the Top 11 falls, with Hyundai (-19.3%) and Peugeot (-12%) hit the hardest, Mercedes (-4.6%) and Dacia (-3%) disappointing and Kia (-0.8%) stable. Opel (+5.1%) is encouraging but the biggest lifts are below. BYD (+141.4%) shoots up to a record 13th place and 2.8% of the market. It is now the best-selling Chinese carmaker in the region, outselling MG (+15.3%) for the first time. BYD also overtakes Ford (-27.1%) for the first time and Citroen (-1.7%) for the 2nd time after last December.

The Tesla Model Y is up 68.2% to third place.

Model-wise, the Dacia Sandero (+0.8%) repeats at #1 for a clear win almost 2,300 sales more than any other nameplate in the region. As always its market mix is relatively balanced across Southern Europe, with 30% of its May volume coming from France, 22% from Italy and 16% from Spain. By the same token, the Sandero also reclaims the lead year-to-date, a ranking it also held over the Full Year 2025. Down to #2 year-to-date is the Renault Clio (-30.6%) down to #8 for the month due to a mediocre result at home in France which accounts for 36% of its May sales. In 2nd place this month is the VW T-Roc (-5.7%) with 37% from Germany. The Tesla Model Y (+68.2%) surges to third place and is strong in most markets, 23% coming from France, 18% from Norway and 14% from Germany. The VW Golf (+6%) is solid at #4 with 42% coming from home in Germany.

Previous month: Europe April 2026: Chinese (+124.5%) help prop market up 6.4%

One year ago: Europe May 2025: BEVs up 28%, Chinese up 111%, Renault Clio repeats at #1

Full May 2025 Top 15 OEMs, Top 83 All brands and Top 598 All models below.