Sweden’s new car market grew clearly in September, and electric cars accounted for almost half of all registrations. According to industry association Mobility Sweden, 28,667 new passenger cars were registered during the month, around 14 percent more than in September 2025. Over the first nine months of the year, the market is up by a more modest 4 percent.
Almost one in two new cars is electric
The EV share reached 49 percent in September, up from 38 percent a year earlier. In volume, electric car registrations rose by 46 percent. From January to September, EV registrations grew by 26 percent, and the share reached 43 percent, compared with just over 35 percent in the same period of 2025.
Including plug-in hybrids, 71 percent of new cars in September could be plugged in, compared with 68 percent last year. Within that group, however, there is a clear shift: electric cars grew strongly, while plug-in hybrids fell both in share and in volume, down 17.5 percent in September.
Private buyers are back
The return of private customers is one of the main reasons for this year’s higher EV share. From January to September, private buyers’ share of the EV market rose from 33 to 40 percent. Starting from relatively low levels, private EV registrations are up 52 percent this year, compared with 13 percent among companies.
Companies still matter most, though. Six out of ten new EVs are still registered to businesses, which makes their choices crucial not only for the new car market but also for the future supply of used EVs.
Mobility Sweden CEO Jessica Alenius says September strengthens an already positive trend, but that keeping it going will require long-term rules, well-targeted incentives that make EVs affordable for more households, and charging infrastructure that works in everyday life.
| Vehicle type | 2026 | 2025 | Change 26/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | September | September | Jan–Sep | |
| Passenger cars, total | 28,667 | 25,199 | +13.8% | +3.8% |
| Electric cars | 14,034 | 9,619 | +45.9% | +25.8% |
| Plug-in hybrids | 6,289 | 7,622 | −17.5% | −6.8% |
| Trucks, total | 4,250 | 3,661 | +16.1% | +17.1% |
| Light trucks, ≤ 3.5 t | 3,571 | 3,079 | +16.0% | +19.5% |
| Heavy trucks, ≥ 16 t | 583 | 477 | +22.2% | +2.5% |
| Buses, total | 23 | 112 | −79.5% | −46.1% |
| Plug-in share of registrations | September | January–September | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |
| Passenger cars, electric | 49.0% | 38.2% | 42.9% | 35.4% |
| Passenger cars, plug-in hybrid | 21.9% | 30.2% | 23.9% | 26.6% |
| Light trucks, electric | 27.8% | 20.7% | 26.3% | 22.9% |
| Light trucks, plug-in hybrid | 6.9% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 4.3% |
| Heavy trucks, ≥ 16 t | 10.8% | 5.9% | 10.3% | 7.1% |
| Buses, total | 17.4% | 37.5% | 50.8% | 45.4% |
New vehicle registrations in Sweden, September 2026 compared with September 2025. Source: Mobility Sweden.
Vans and trucks pick up too
The market for light trucks continued to recover, with 3,571 new registrations in September, up 16 percent. So far this year the segment has grown by 19.5 percent, and the electric share stood at 28 percent in September. On the back of this trend, Mobility Sweden has raised its full-year forecast for light trucks from 38,000 to 40,000.
Heavy truck registrations rose by just over 22 percent to 583 vehicles, with an electric share of 11 percent. Alenius stresses that electrification of commercial vehicles must accelerate if transport is to contribute fully to the climate goals, which requires better charging access, sufficient grid capacity, investment support and clear requirements in public procurement.
The bus market remains weak after record registrations in 2025, which followed delivery problems the year before. Only 23 new buses were registered in September, a fall of almost 80 percent. Even so, every second new bus registered this year has been electric.
