Car sales edge down, electric cars remain dominant
Fewer new cars were registered in October, while fully electric models accounted for more than half of the market.
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Dutch sales of new passenger cars fell slightly in October. According to figures from RDC, analysed by RAI Vereniging and BOVAG, 33,061 cars were registered: 3.5 per cent fewer than in October last year.
In the first ten months of 2026, 297,051 new passenger cars were registered. That is 2.3 per cent fewer than in the same period of 2025. These are registrations, not the number of cars sold in the broad sense: cars ordered earlier may have been registered in a different month.
The decline was not in fully electric cars. They accounted for 18,243 registrations in October and a market share of 55.2 per cent. Hybrid cars accounted for 12,742 registrations, or 38.5 per cent. Petrol cars came to 5.5 per cent, diesel to 0.5 per cent and LPG to 0.3 per cent.
This meant that more than 93 per cent of new registrations in October were fully electric or hybrid. These totals do not show which types of hybrids were included. The combined share therefore does not indicate how many of these cars can drive fully electrically.
With 3,087 registrations, Kia was the best-selling make, followed by Volkswagen with 2,931. The Škoda Elroq was the most popular model, with 931 registrations. The figures show a large share of electric and hybrid cars and a fall in the total number of registrations.
BOVAG and RAI Vereniging previously reported that business drivers may bring forward purchases ahead of amended tax rules for cars with an internal-combustion engine. The industry organisations expect around 371,000 new passenger cars in 2027, compared with an expectation of 384,000 in 2026. This is a forecast, not a fixed outcome.
Electric and hybrid models make up the largest share of new registrations; the figures say nothing about affordability or sales of used cars. For manufacturers, dealers and leasing companies, both the falling registrations and the distribution across powertrains may be important. The question behind the news is therefore not only how many cars are being sold, but also which powertrain the market and tax policy will favour in the coming years.
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- Fully electric cars reached 55.2 per cent of new registrations in October, according to RDC data as published by Autoblog.
- Electrified powertrains held a large share in October: electric cars and hybrids together accounted for more than 93 per cent of registrations.
▼ Concerns
- The total number of new registrations fell by 3.5 per cent year on year in October.
- From January to October, registrations were 2.3 per cent below those in the same period of 2025.
Critical note
Registrations measure when a car is registered and do not directly measure underlying demand or affordability. The high share of electric and hybrid cars also says little about the split between business and private buyers.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Dealers, manufacturers and leasing companies face a smaller overall market and a rapid shift towards electric powertrains.
- Households
- New cars are increasingly electric or hybrid, but the figures do not show whether these models are affordable for households.
- Government
- Tax rules influence the timing and composition of registrations and make market forecasts more sensitive to policy changes.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- In October 2026, the number of new passenger-car registrations fell by 3.5 per cent year on year.
- Fully electric cars accounted for 55.2 per cent of registrations; hybrids for 38.5 per cent.
- BOVAG and RAI Vereniging expect fewer new registrations in 2027 than in 2026.
Left
Arguments A rapid transition to electric cars requires stable policy, affordable models and sufficient charging facilities; tax incentives should not primarily serve the business market.
Values Climate policy, affordability and equal access to mobility.
Consequences Without public investment and targeted support, lower-income households may remain dependent on older, more polluting cars for longer.
Centre
Arguments The figures point to a structural shift, but policy must take account of the limited predictability of monthly registrations and differences between business and private buyers.
Values Policy certainty, feasibility and a gradual transition.
Consequences A stable tax system can help market participants plan, while leaving room for multiple powertrains as long as infrastructure and supply are not equal everywhere.
Right
Arguments From this perspective, the falling total sales and changing tax rules show that the government should not steer the market too strongly and that consumers should be free to choose.
Values Freedom of choice, affordability and restrained government policy.
Consequences Tightening rules too quickly could make cars more expensive, shrink the market and create uncertainty for businesses over investment and inventories.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures can be found in the current registration analysis based on RDC data. The context on expected market developments and tax changes is presented as an expectation from BOVAG and RAI Vereniging.
- confirmed In October 2026, 33,061 new passenger cars were registered, 3.5 per cent fewer than a year earlier. — Autoblog gives both figures and the percentage difference, based on RDC, RAI Vereniging and BOVAG. source
- confirmed Electric cars had a market share of 55.2 per cent in October and hybrids 38.5 per cent. — The breakdown appears in the source’s fuel table. source
- confirmed From January to October, 297,051 cars were registered, 2.3 per cent fewer than in 2025. — The figures appear in Autoblog’s October analysis. source
- confirmed BOVAG and RAI expect around 371,000 registrations in 2027, compared with 384,000 in 2026. — The industry forecast is mentioned in recent public reporting on the outlook for car sales. source
Editor's note
The October registrations and market shares are based on RDC figures as analysed by RAI Vereniging and BOVAG. The forecast for 2027 is an industry expectation; registrations are not the same as consumer purchases and say nothing about used cars.Sources
- Autoverkoopcijfers oktober 2026 — Autoblog
- Verkoop nieuwe auto’s toont herstel in derde kwartaal 2026 — BOVAG
- RDC verkoopteller — AUMACON
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „autoverkoop elektrisch rijden”
- de Volkskrant — „autoverkoop elektrisch rijden”
- NU.nl — „autoverkoop elektrisch rijden”