Portuguese Auto Market Grows 2.4% in October as Electric Vehicles Gain Share
Portuguese Auto Market Grows 2.4% in October as Electric Vehicles Gain Share
Portugal's new car market expanded by 2.4% in October 2026, with 20,367 vehicles registered, according to the Portuguese Automobile Association (ACAP). The data highlights a continued shift toward electrified transport, as battery-electric and hybrid models accounted for nearly 80% of light passenger vehicle registrations in the first ten months of the year.
Portugal’s new vehicle market recorded a 2.4% increase in October 2026, with 20,367 cars registered compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Portuguese Automobile Association (ACAP). The growth contributes to a cumulative rise of 9.9% over the first ten months of the year, during which 241,293 new vehicles entered circulation.
The most significant shift occurred within the light passenger vehicle segment, where electrified models gained substantial market share. In October, battery-electric vehicles (BEV) accounted for 44.9% of all new registrations in this category. Over the ten-month period, alternative-energy vehicles represented 77.5% of new light passenger car sales. This total included battery-electric vehicles at 30.3%, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) at 25.4%, and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) at 15.1%. Other technologies comprised the remaining 6.8%.
Conventional fuel sources continued to decline in share. Gasoline-powered vehicles held 19.1% of the market, while diesel accounted for just 3.4%.
Light passenger vehicles led the overall growth, with 16,595 units registered in October, a 2.8% increase year-over-year. For the ten-month period, 205,507 light passenger cars were registered, marking a 9.5% rise. Light commercial vehicles also showed strong performance, with 3,182 units registered in October, up 20.4% from the previous year. The cumulative total for this category reached 28,315 units, reflecting a 10.4% increase.
In contrast, the heavy vehicle market experienced a sharp contraction in October. Only 590 heavy vehicles were registered, representing a 46.6% drop compared to the same period last year. Despite this monthly decline, the ten-month cumulative total for heavy vehicles stood at 7,471 units, which is 19.6% higher than the corresponding period in 2025.
R.Pilialoha--HStB
