EU bus registrations rise 24.5% in Q1 2026, electric segment reaches 21.8% share

EU bus registrations increased by 24.5% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 10,964 units, with electrically-chargeable models accounting for 21.8% of the market.

The European commercial vehicle market opened 2026 with growth across all segments, with the bus sector recording the highest increase in registrations. According to data released by ACEA on 29 April 2026, buses outpaced vans and trucks in relative growth, while electrification continued to expand across powertrain categories.

Bus registrations in the EU: volumes and national trends

New bus registrations in the European Union totalled 10,964 units in Q1 2026, marking a 24.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Among the largest markets, Germany recorded a 34.7% increase, followed by Italy at +23.7% and France at +22%. Spain registered a decline of 6.2% and the last of the five largest continental markets, the United Kingdom, drops sharply by as much as 37.1%. On a positive note, Poland stands out with an impressive surge of +62.6%.

The bus segment showed higher growth compared to vans, which increased by 2.3%, and trucks, which rose by 10.7% to 81,766 units. Within the truck segment, heavy trucks accounted for most of the growth, with a 12.6% increase.

Electric bus market share and powertrain mix

Electrically-chargeable bus registrations in the EU increased by 36% in the first quarter of 2026. Their market share rose to 21.8%, up from 20% in Q1 2025. Italy recorded a 161.2% increase in electrically-chargeable bus registrations, representing the strongest growth among major markets.

Diesel buses remained the dominant powertrain, with registrations increasing by 24.8% and accounting for 65.7% of the total market. Hybrid-electric buses declined by 10.6%, representing 5.1% of registrations.

The data aligns with broader trends observed in recent periods, where battery-electric buses have represented the largest share of non-diesel technologies. In the first nine months of 2025, over 8,000 battery-electric buses were registered across Europe, exceeding full-year 2024 volumes and contributing to the expansion of zero-emission fleets.

Electrification trends across commercial vehicles

Electrification progressed across all commercial vehicle segments in Q1 2026, although at varying rates. Electrically-chargeable vans increased by 42%, reaching a 12% market share, while electric trucks grew by 40.1% to 4.4% share.

In the bus segment, the share of electrically-chargeable vehicles remained higher than in vans and trucks, exceeding one-fifth of total registrations. Diesel continued to account for the majority of registrations across all segments, including buses.

The overall commercial vehicle market showed differentiated growth patterns, with buses recording the highest increase in registrations and a continued rise in the share of electrically-chargeable vehicles within the segment.