Austria’s electric car registrations hit record levels in H1 2026

In the first half of 2026, Austria saw a sharp rise in newly registered electric passenger vehicles. The Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) reported 2,089 EVs in Vorarlberg, raising the region’s EV share to 25.4% of all new cars – a record for a half‑year. The Bregenz district led with a 28.1% EV proportion, followed by Feldkirch (27.2%) and Dornbirn (25.3%).

Kärnten added 1,951 new EVs, lifting its overall EV share to 21.7%, another half‑year high. The Klagenfurt‑Land district posted the highest local share at 28.9%, with Völkermarkt close behind at 28.8%.

Nationwide, 40,060 battery‑electric vehicles were registered, a 27% increase over the same period in 2025 and pushing the EV share of all new passenger cars to 24.3%, up 2.3 percentage points. Total new‑car registrations rose 15% to 164,529 units, driven largely by strong demand for BEVs. The VCÖ called for ending tax advantages for privately used combustion‑engine company cars, arguing that such reforms would further accelerate electrification.