Bulgaria had the biggest rise in the European Union in registrations of new plug-in hybrids and hybrids from January to September 2026. It ranks second after Croatia for fully electric cars, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said.

The data, which the association posted on its website today, compare the first nine months of the year with the same period of 2025.

In Bulgaria, 39,755 new passenger cars were registered in nine months, up 9.8% on a year earlier. Plug-in hybrids numbered 1,225, up 169.2%, and regular hybrids 2,574, up 108.6%. Fully electric cars numbered 3,480, up 108%. Only Croatia did better, with a rise of 244.6%.

Petrol cars remain the most common, at 28,009, down 3.3%. Diesel cars numbered 4,412, up 15.8%, while cars with other types of drive numbered 55, down 12.7%.

In Bulgaria, 4,193 new passenger cars were registered in September, 10% more than the 3,813 a year earlier. The average rise for the EU is 9.3%, with 971,048 cars against 888,529 in September 2025.

In September, 328 plug-in hybrids were registered in Bulgaria, up 662.8%, the biggest rise among member states. Fully electric cars numbered 569, up 151.8%. Bulgaria is second in the EU for these after Estonia, where registrations rose 173.5% to 186 cars. Hybrids numbered 246, up 74.5%. Petrol cars numbered 2,753, down 8.2%, and diesel cars 291, down 21.6%.

Across the EU, 8,517,059 new passenger cars were registered in nine months, up 5.7%. Hybrids, including full and mild hybrids, have the biggest share of the market with 3,090,530 cars, up 10.7%, or 36.3% of all sales. Among countries, Italy (20.8%) and Spain (20.5%) grew the most, while Germany grew 4.9% and France 0.6%.

Fully electric cars are the second most popular type of drive in the EU after hybrids. A total of 1,931,465 were registered, up 48.5%, and their share is 22.7%, against 16.1% a year earlier. The four biggest markets account for 64% of all electric car registrations in the Union: France, with the biggest rise at 79.1%, Germany at 58.1%, Denmark at 40.3% and Belgium at 15.7%.

In the EU, 860,257 plug-in hybrids were registered, up 18.6%. They hold 10.1% of the market, against 9% a year earlier. Among the main markets, Italy grew the most (72.4%), followed by Spain (34.7%) and Germany (13.7%).

Petrol and diesel cars are losing market share. Petrol car registrations came to 1,802,078, down 19.1%, and their share fell to 21.2% from 27.7%. France lost the most, 36.1%, followed by Germany with 22.7%, Spain with 19% and Italy with 16.4%. Diesel cars numbered 602,206, down 19.5%, and hold 7.1% of the market, against 9.3% a year earlier.

In September alone, 290,117 fully electric cars were registered in the EU, up 72.9%. Hybrids numbered 330,693 in the month, up 7.3%, and plug-in hybrids 102,267, up 11.7%.

Volkswagen Group is the top carmaker, with 2,230,190 registrations in nine months and a market share of 26.2%, up 0.7 percentage points. In September its registrations fell 4.1% to 231,474, and its share dropped to 23.8% from 27.2% a year earlier.

Stellantis is second with 1,342,159 cars in nine months, up 5.1%, and a share of 15.8%. It was also second in September, with 139,582 cars sold, up 4.7%, but its share fell to 14.4% from 15%.

Renault Group is next with 882,788 cars in nine months, down 3.5%, and a share of 10.4%, against 11.4% a year earlier. In September its registrations rose 1.8% to 102,364, and its share is 10.5%, against 11.3% in September 2025.

China's BYD registered 206,002 cars in nine months, against 80,977 a year earlier, up 154.4%, and holds 2.4% of the market, against 1%. In September it registered 28,309 cars, up 111.4%, and its share reached 2.9%, against 1.5% a year earlier.