Sales of Electric Cars are Increasing in Europe But Not all Brands are Benefiting From It

AUTO: Automotive News and Dataforce released July 2026 figures. The first observation is that the European car market is not doing too badly, with an increase of 4.1% compared to July 2025. And the electric in there?

The automobile european market – including Switzerland, Iceland, United Kingdom and Norway – runs correctly, without being in sparkling shape. Indeed, the first month of vacation shows a slight slowdown, since 4.1% is less than the progression measured over the first seven months of the year: + 5.7%. What about electric vehicle sales?

Clearly, they “profit” (the word is poorly chosen) of the situation in Iran. These sales increased by 51% in July 2026 compared to July 2025, and by 37% over the first seven months of the year, compared to the same period of the previous year. Now, one in four cars sold in Europe is 100% electric. In short, the electric vehicle is making its place, and the big winners from this progression… are not who we think.

Few Chinese cars

In the top 20 electric car sales since the start of the year, there are only three Chinese cars in 5th, 11th and 20th places. And we can add that Tesla Model 3 (3rd place) which arrives here from Shanghai. Chinese brands together claim an increase of 64% over the January-July period, for a cumulative market share of less than 10%.

The return of a non-electric 500 is doing a lot of good for Fiat sales unlike Skoda and Renault whose electric models are driving sales upwards. - Fiat

As for European brands, we note an interesting phenomenon. The strongest increase is that of Fiat, with + 25% in July (January-July: + 27%), and Citroën, + 16% (January-July: + 11.4%). For Fiat, it can be clearly established that the figures are largely explained by the launch of more affordable models, such as versions essence and hybrid of the Grande Panda, and the return of a 500 hybrid.

At Citroën, the locomotive is the C3 Aircross, also very affordable in its non-electric versions, which represent almost three quarters of sales. Note that one story is not the other, since at Skoda (+ 8.9% over 7 months) or at Renault (+ 11% in July) it is the electric models that are driving sales upwards.