Electric Buses Surge as Europe’s Truck Market Slows

Europe’s commercial vehicle market delivered a mixed performance in 2025, with the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) highlighting a clear divide between trucks and buses. While overall truck registrations declined amid weak buyer sentiment, electric buses recorded strong growth across most European markets, signalling a faster transition in public transport than in freight.

According to ACEA’s annual review, total truck registrations across the European Union fell by 6.2% year-on-year to 307,460 units. Germany, one of the region’s largest markets, saw an even steeper decline of 12.2%, with registrations dropping to 77,431 units. The slowdown reflects continued economic uncertainty and cautious investment decisions by fleet operators.

Despite the broader contraction, electric trucks showed limited but notable progress. Electrically chargeable trucks accounted for 4.2% of all truck registrations in the EU in 2025, up from 2.3% a year earlier. When EFTA countries and the UK are included, the share rises to 4.8%. Medium-duty trucks between 3.5 and 16 tonnes played a key role in this growth, with plug-in models jumping 87% year-on-year to 7,867 units, representing 14.8% of registrations in this segment.

Germany led the EU in absolute numbers, registering 3,368 medium-duty electric trucks, though faster growth rates were recorded elsewhere. The Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy posted triple-digit percentage increases, while Switzerland emerged as a standout market. The Alpine nation registered 942 electric trucks over 3.5 tonnes, giving it Europe’s highest electric truck share at 21.3%.

Heavy-duty trucks over 16 tonnes remained dominated by diesel, which still accounted for over 93% of new registrations. Even so, Germany retained its leadership in heavy electric trucks, registering 1,398 units in 2025, equivalent to 28% of the EU total. Austria and the Netherlands also showed strong momentum in this category.

In contrast to the truck sector, Europe’s bus market delivered a clear recovery. EU bus registrations rose by 7.5% to 38,238 units, with battery-electric buses taking an increasingly central role. Electric buses accounted for 23.8% of new registrations in the EU, rising to 25.9% when the UK and EFTA countries are included — meaning one in four new buses in Europe is now electric.

Germany doubled its electric bus registrations to 1,808 units, while strong growth was also recorded in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and several smaller markets. The UK remained Europe’s largest electric bus market, registering 2,856 new units in 2025.

ACEA summed up the year as challenging for commercial vehicles overall, noting that buses stood out as the only segment to show consistent growth amid difficult economic conditions.