More new passenger cars sold, electric vehicle sales reach record high
New car registrations in the Netherlands have seen a narrowing decline, with signs of market recovery toward the end of the year. Fully electric vehicles have reached a record 52.8 percent market share in September, while industry organizations are lobbying for fundamental reforms to the national automotive tax system.
The automotive market in the Netherlands shows signs of recovery as the annual decline in new car registrations narrows to 1.9 percent, totaling 264,701 vehicles. Recent data from RAI Vereniging and BOVAG indicates that while sales were slower in the first half of the year, the trend is stabilizing as 2026 progresses. Fully electric vehicles are leading this shift, capturing a record 52.8 percent market share in September, compared to 37.5 percent during the same period last year.
Hybrid vehicles are also gaining popularity, with their market share rising to 50 percent during the first nine months of the year. This growth has come at the expense of traditional gasoline-powered cars, which saw their market share drop to 7.4 percent. Industry experts attribute the surge in electric vehicle demand to high fuel costs. Meanwhile, representatives from the automotive sector are calling on the government to reform the current tax system, advocating for a simpler model that prioritizes vehicle usage over ownership to ensure long-term affordability for drivers.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
