EU electric bus registrations rise 38% in January -September 2026, with Italy and Poland leading volumes

Electrically chargeable buses and coaches accounted for 26.4% of EU registrations in January–September 2026, with volumes rising 37.6% year on year to 8,633 units, according to ACEA.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s latest figures show total EU bus and coach registrations above 3.5 tonnes reaching 32,695 vehicles, up 15.2% compared with the first nine months of 2025. Italy became the largest EU market both for total registrations and for electrically chargeable vehicles.

The latest figures follow 9,089 electrically chargeable bus registrations in 2025, representing a 23.8% EU market share. Using its zero-emission classification, ICCT reported 2,732 bus and coach registrations and a 24.2% share in Q1 2026. ACEA has also called for changes to European bus procurement and industrial policy, while BloombergNEF’s Electric Vehicle Outlook 2026 reported that more than 20 countries exceeded 50% electric municipal bus sales in 2025.

EU electrically chargeable bus registrations reach 8,633

According to ACEA, electrically chargeable bus registrations increased from 6,276 units in January–September 2025 to 8,633 in the corresponding period of 2026. Their market share rose from 22.1% to 26.4%.

The category includes battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. ACEA reports fuel cell electric vehicles within its “others” category, alongside natural gas, LPG and other fuels. The electrically chargeable figures therefore do not constitute a separate count of battery-electric buses or all zero-emission buses.

In brief

• What share did electrically chargeable buses achieve in the EU? They accounted for 26.4% of bus and coach registrations in January–September 2026, compared with 22.1% a year earlier.
• Which EU country registered the most? Italy, with 1,970 electrically chargeable buses and coaches, up 116.2%.
• Do these figures cover battery-electric buses only? No. ACEA includes battery-electric and plug-in hybrids; fuel cell vehicles are reported under “others”.
• How large was the overall EU bus market? Registrations above 3.5 tonnes reached 32,695 vehicles, up 15.2%.

Diesel remained the largest powertrain category across the combined bus and coach market, with 19,090 registrations, up 5%, and a 58.4% share. Hybrid-electric registrations, including full and mild hybrids, increased 24% to 2,264 vehicles, accounting for 6.9% of the market.

The “others” category reached 2,706 registrations, up 29.7%. The release does not provide separate totals for fuel cell or natural gas buses, or a breakdown between city buses, interurban buses and coaches.

Italy leads EU volumes, Poland records 557% growth

Italy registered 1,970 electrically chargeable buses and coaches, up 116.2% from 911 in the first nine months of 2025. Total Italian registrations increased 34.4% to 5,338 vehicles, compared with 5,289 in France and 5,245 in Germany.

Poland recorded 999 electrically chargeable registrations, up 557.2% from 152. Its overall bus and coach market expanded 68.6% to 3,107 vehicles, making it the fourth-largest EU market.

The Netherlands registered 783 electrically chargeable vehicles, up 86%, while Portugal reached 642, an increase of 379.1%. France recorded 665 registrations, up 32.7%.

Several markets recorded lower volumes. Germany’s electrically chargeable registrations fell 30.4% to 836, despite growth in its total bus market. Sweden declined 39.5% to 422 vehicles, Belgium fell 71.4% to 196, and Spain recorded 299, down 7.4%.

European registrations including UK and EFTA rise 23%

Across the EU, EFTA and UK, electrically chargeable bus and coach registrations reached 11,428 units, up 23% from 9,294 in January–September 2025. The UK registered 1,727 electrically chargeable vehicles, down 22.7%, while its total bus and coach market contracted 27.2% to 5,672 units.

EFTA markets recorded 1,068 electrically chargeable registrations, up 36.1%. Norway accounted for 785 vehicles, Switzerland for 244 and Iceland for 39. Total bus and coach registrations across the EU, EFTA and UK increased 7.1% to 40,435 vehicles.