New passenger car registrations in Bulgaria up 9.8% in January – September 2026

There were 39 755 new passenger car registrations in Bulgaria in January to September 2026, an increase of 9.8 per cent compared with January to September 2025, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, ACEA, said on October 22.

Of the new passenger car registrations in Bulgaria in January – September 2026, a total of 28 009 were petrol cars, 4412 diesel, 3480 battery-electric, 2574 hybrid-electric and 1225 plug-in hybrid.

A total of 55 were in the category “other”, which includes fuel-cell electric vehicles natural gas vehicles, LPG, E85/ethanol, and other fuels.

ACEA said that the new EU passenger car market showed notable resilience, rising 5.7 per cent year-to-date despite a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by persistently rising energy prices and geopolitical headwinds.

Demand for a range of electrified vehicles remained strong, particularly in major European markets, supported by buyer support measures and a broader model offering.

Hybrid-electric vehicles ranked as the most popular powertrain choice among buyers, whereas battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids accounted for 22.7 per cent and 10.1 per cent of the EU market, respectively.

Up until September 2026, battery-electric cars secured a 22.7 per cent share of the EU market, up from 16.1 per cent a year earlier.

Hybrid-electric car registrations captured 36.3 per cent of the market, remaining the preferred choice among EU consumers.

At the same time, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 28.2 per cent, compared with 36.9 per cent a year earlier, ACEA said.