ACEA’s Q1, 2026 commercial vehicle registrations in Europe

The European commercial vehicle market delivered a mixed performance in early 2026, with modest growth in van registrations and stronger momentum in the truck segment. Beneath the headline figures, however, the data highlights a clear structural shift: demand for low- and zero-emission vehicles is accelerating, even as diesel continues to dominate overall volumes. Here are the data about the entire 2025.

ACEA: Uneven growth across key EU markets

New van registrations in the EU rose by 2.3% year-on-year, though performance varied significantly across major markets. Spain led with a robust 13% increase, followed by France at 3.7%. In contrast, Germany and Italy recorded declines of 9% and 1.7%, respectively—underscoring ongoing regional disparities in fleet renewal cycles and economic conditions.

The truck segment showed stronger overall growth, with registrations increasing by 10.7% to reach 81,766 units. This expansion was largely driven by a 12.6% rise in heavy-duty truck demand, while medium-duty trucks saw a marginal 0.7% increase. Among leading markets, Poland (+32.8%) and Spain (+17.1%) posted standout performances, while Germany grew moderately (+6.9%). France was the only major market to contract, with registrations falling by 1.4% compared to the same period in 2025.

Vans: Electrification gains traction

Diesel-powered vans remain the backbone of the EU market, accounting for 80% of new registrations despite a slight decline of 0.8% in volume. However, their share has decreased from 82.5% a year earlier—reflecting a gradual but consistent shift toward alternative powertrains.

Electrically chargeable vans, comprising both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, are gaining ground rapidly. Registrations surged by 42%, lifting their market share to 12%, up from 8.7% in Q1 2025. This growth signals increasing confidence among fleet operators in electric van deployments, supported by expanding charging infrastructure and regulatory incentives.

Meanwhile, petrol vans continue to lose relevance, with registrations dropping by 27.1% and market share shrinking to 3.7%. Hybrid vans recorded a comparable growth rate to electric models (+42.1%), though they remain a niche segment with a 3.5% share of the market.

Trucks: Diesel dominance persists

In the truck segment, diesel remains overwhelmingly dominant, representing 92.4% of all new EU registrations in Q1 2026. Volumes grew by 11%, reinforcing diesel’s central role in long-haul and heavy-duty operations where zero-emission alternatives are still scaling.

However, electrically chargeable trucks are expanding at a significantly faster pace. Registrations increased by 40.1%, raising their market share to 4.4%, up from 3.5% in the previous year. Growth was particularly strong in France (+66.3%) and Germany (+58.9%), while the Netherlands saw a slight decline (-1.3%). Together, these three markets accounted for 71% of all electric truck registrations—highlighting the importance of national policy frameworks and infrastructure readiness in driving adoption.