Electric trucks gain traction in Europe

According to figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), the registration of electric trucks, vans, and buses has significantly increased between January and September 2026. However, with the exception of buses, diesel remains the dominant fuel type.

Growth varies across vehicle types

Electricity is gaining ground across all segments of the professional vehicle market in Europe. For the first nine months of 2026, the registration of electric trucks rose by 49.8 percent, that of vans by 38.2 percent, and that of buses by 37.6 percent. However, their weight in the market remains highly uneven: electricity represents 26.4 percent of new buses and 14.1 percent of vans, but only 5.3 percent of trucks, where diesel retains a dominant share of 91.7 percent.

Diesel truck registrations also rise

Even more surprisingly, the registration of diesel trucks has also increased, with a rise of 6.6 percent over the first nine months of 2026. In other words, electricity is advancing rapidly, but this growth has not yet resulted in a decline in the sales of diesel trucks. Both powertrains show an increase in their registrations, in a generally more dynamic market.

Germany, France, and the Netherlands lead

Germany, France, and the Netherlands concentrate the majority of electric trucks. In total, 245,079 new trucks, including 12,873 electric ones, were registered in the European Union between January and September 2026, representing an increase of 7.5 percent compared to the previous year. The growth of electric vehicles is far from uniform across the continent.

Germany's electric truck surge

In detail, Germany leads with 5,601 electric trucks registered, representing 43.5 percent of the total European figure. Its growth is driven by heavy trucks of 16 tonnes and more, whose volumes have almost doubled (+91.3 percent, to 1,722 units), while trucks weighing between 3.5 and 16 tonnes increased by 71.6 percent (3,879 units).

France and the Netherlands show different trends

In France, the situation is reversed: trucks weighing between 3.5 and 16 tonnes surged by 86.6 percent (974 units), while heavy trucks increased by 36 percent (771 units). The Netherlands have 1,195 medium trucks (+40.3 percent) and 1,022 heavy trucks (+83.8 percent).

Nordic countries lead in electrification

When adjusted for the size of each market, however, it is the Netherlands and the Nordic countries that are leading the way. One out of five new trucks registered in the Netherlands is now electric (20.2 percent), ahead of Sweden (18.4 percent) and Denmark (16.5 percent). Despite their volumes, Germany (9.5 percent) and France (5.3 percent) remain significantly behind.

Italy lags behind in electric truck adoption

At the other end of the ranking, several major markets are slipping. Italy sees its registration of electric trucks drop by 47.7 percent, to 260 units, with a share of only 1.2 percent. Spain (1.6 percent) and Poland (0.7 percent) also remain below the 2 percent threshold, despite being the third and fourth largest truck markets in the European Union.

UK and Switzerland show strong electrification

Outside the European Union, the United Kingdom registered 3,246 electric trucks (+46.9 percent), representing 7.8 percent of its market. Switzerland (27.4 percent) and Norway (23.6 percent) show the highest electrification rates in Europe.

Electric vans grow, but diesel still dominates

Electric vans are also progressing, but diesel remains dominant. Between January and September 2026, 1,073,427 new vans were registered in the European Union, a volume generally stable compared to the same period in 2025. Electric light commercial vehicles, however, show an increase of 38.2 percent, raising their market share to 14.1 percent, compared to 10.2 percent a year earlier.

France leads in electric van sales

On the electric side, France remains the leading European market with 34,355 vans registered during the first nine months, an increase of 33.3 percent. It alone accounts for 22.6 percent of the European Union's sales, and the share of electric vehicles there rises from 9.7 percent to 13.8 percent, even as the French light commercial vehicle market declines by 5.6 percent.

Netherlands and Denmark lead in van electrification

Germany follows with 28,755 units (+49.7 percent, 15.2 percent market share), ahead of Spain (16,792 units, +41.5 percent). In terms of penetration rates, however, the Netherlands and Denmark are the champions. According to ACEA, 84.3 percent of new vans registered in the Netherlands are electric, while Denmark reaches 43.7 percent, compared to 29.7 percent a year earlier.

Italy trails in van electrification

Conversely, Italy remains behind with a share of only 6.0 percent. Sweden (32.1 percent) and Portugal (24.0 percent), where sales have more than doubled (+146.6 percent), complete the extended podium.

Electric buses show the fastest growth

Electric buses are gaining ground more rapidly. Finally, it is on the bus market that electrification appears most advanced in terms of market share. The registration of rechargeable electric buses has increased by 37.6 percent in the European Union during the first nine months of 2026. Their market share now reaches 26.4 percent, compared to 22.1 percent a year earlier.

Italy leads in electric bus registrations

Italy, now the leading European bus market, drives this dynamic: its registration of electric buses has more than doubled (+116.2 percent), to 1,970 units, or 22.8 percent of the total of the European Union. The share of electric there rises to 36.9 percent, compared to 22.9 percent a year earlier.

Poland sees a dramatic increase in electric buses

Poland also achieves a spectacular breakthrough, with 999 electric buses registered compared to 152 a year earlier (+557.2 percent), raising their share to 32.2 percent. France progresses more modestly (+32.7 percent, to 665 units), and electric represents only 12.6 percent of new buses.

Germany sees a decline in electric buses

Among the major markets, Germany is an exception: its registration of electric buses has declined by 30.4 percent, to 836 units, and their share falls from 25.2 percent to 15.9 percent, even as its bus market progresses by 10.1 percent. Sweden (-39.5 percent) and especially Belgium (-71.4 percent) are also experiencing a significant decline.

Smaller markets lead in bus electrification

In terms of penetration rates, it is smaller markets that are leading: Romania (81.8 percent), the Netherlands (74.9 percent), Denmark (64.0 percent), and Portugal (55.0 percent) all exceed the 50 percent threshold.