Electrified powertrains dominate the car search for the first time.

Germany is leaning more strongly toward hybrid vehicles, while interest in pure electric cars stabilizes at a high level. This is shown by the "European EV Pulse Report" from IMAGIN.studio, which was presented in Berlin on May 11, 2026. According to the company, the analysis is based on over 300 million image views in five European core markets.

Accordingly, the share of search queries for battery-electric vehicles in Germany in the period from March 24 to April 24, 2026 remained at 36.69 percent, nearly at the level of the previous year's period with 37.16 percent. At the same time, the share of hybrid vehicles rose from 24.65 percent to 28.92 percent. Interest in gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles fell from 38.16 percent to 34.27 percent.

Electrified powertrains reach two-thirds mark

When you add up electric and hybrid models, electrified drivetrains account for almost two-thirds of all search queries in Germany. The market is moving toward a more balanced three-way split between electric, hybrid, and combustion technologies, according to the provider.

While pure electric vehicles maintain their appeal, hybrid models are gaining momentum. This suggests that many consumers are evaluating electrified options, while also valuing flexibility.

Europe-wide differences evident

In the European comparison, different trends emerge. In the United Kingdom, the share of searches for battery-electric vehicles rose from 33.39 percent to 45.23 percent, while hybrid models fell from 23.02 percent to 19.34 percent. In France, both electric and hybrid vehicles increased, while ICE vehicles declined significantly.

Italy recorded a strong rise in hybrid models from 17.53 percent to 37.44 percent, with simultaneously waning interest in pure electric cars. In Spain, hybrid queries rose from 32.35 percent to 45.15 percent, while ICE vehicles fell from 33.88 percent to 22.69 percent.

Across all studied markets, the combined share of searches for electric and hybrid vehicles in April 2026 rose on average by 9 percent compared with the prior-year month.