New commercial vehicle registrations: vans +2.3%, trucks +10.7%, buses +24.5% in Q1 2026
The European commercial vehicle market started 2026 on a positive note, with performance varying across segments. While growth in the van and truck segments reflects a recovery from a low base, the bus segment stands out with robust momentum at the start of the year. Meanwhile, the overall share of electrically-chargeable vehicles is rising, but progress remains too slow, with market uptake still constrained by insufficient enabling conditions.
New EU van sales grew by 2.3%, with mixed results across the four largest markets. Spain recorded the strongest increase (+13%), followed by France (+3.7%). Conversely, Germany and Italy saw declines of 9% and 1.7%, respectively.
New EU truck registrations also increased by 10.7%, totalling 81,766 units. This growth was predominantly driven by a 12.6% surge in heavy-truck sales, alongside a more modest 0.7% increase in medium-truck registrations. Among the major markets, Poland (+32.8%) and Spain (+17.1%) posted double digit gains, followed by Germany (+6.9%). In contrast, France experienced a decline of 1.4% compared to Q1 2025.
New EU bus sales increased by 24.5%, amounting to 10,964 units. Among major markets, Germany recorded a strong increase (+34.7%), followed by Italy (+23.7%) and France (+22%). On the other hand, Spain recorded a decline (-6.2%), whereas Poland recorded a notable increase of 62.6%.
New EU car registrations by power source
Vans
Diesel remains the preferred choice for new van buyers in the EU, although registrations declined (-0.8%) to 288,484 units, bringing its market share down to 80% (from 82.5% in Q1 2025). Electrically-chargeable vans grew by 42%, capturing 12% market share, an increase from 8.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Petrol models decreased by 27.1%, reducing their market share to 3.7% (down from 5.2%). Hybrid van registrations also rose by 42.1%. However, they only accounted for a 3.5% of the EU market.
Trucks
Diesel maintained its dominance in the truck market in the first quarter of 2026. Diesel trucks accounted for 92.4% of new EU registrations, up 11%. Electrically-chargeable trucks grew by 40.1%, securing 4.4% of the market (from 3.5% last year). France (+66.3%) and Germany (+58.9%) led this expansion, whereas the Netherlands (-1.3%) saw a decline. Together, these markets represented 71% of total registrations for this segment.
Buses
New EU electrically-chargeable bus registrations surged by 36%, with its market share increasing from 20% in Q1 2025 to 21.8%. Italy, the second largest market by total registrations, recorded particularly strong growth (+161.2%). Diesel bus registrations also increased by 24.8%, holding a 65.7% market share. By contrast, hybrid-electric bus registrations experienced a decline of 10.6%, accounting now for 5.1% of the market.
The European commercial vehicle market started 2026 on a positive note, with performance varying across segments. While growth in the van and truck segments reflects a recovery from a low base, the bus segment stands out with robust momentum at the start of the year.
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