Portugal’s automotive market continued to grow in August, with 17,209 new motor vehicles registered, an 11.3% increase compared with the same month in 2025.
According to data from the Portuguese Automobile Association (ACAP), a total of 197,632 new vehicles were registered between January and August 2026, representing growth of 10.3% year on year.
Light passenger vehicle registrations reached 169,323 units during the first eight months, up 9.5% from the same period last year. In August alone, 14,086 new passenger cars were registered, an 8.4% increase.
The light commercial vehicle segment also recorded strong growth, with registrations rising 21.8% year on year in August to 2,449 units. Cumulative registrations reached 22,299, up 9.8%.
The heavy vehicle market posted the strongest growth, with registrations increasing 45.9% in August to 674 units. Between January and August, 6,010 heavy vehicles were registered, 39.6% more than in the same period of 2025.
The expansion of the automotive market is being accompanied by a continued shift towards alternative-energy vehicles. By August, 75.6% of newly registered light passenger vehicles were powered by alternative energy sources, including electric and hybrid technologies.
Fully electric cars accounted for 26.8% of new passenger vehicle registrations in the first eight months of the year. In August, their share rose to 36.1%, highlighting the accelerating adoption of electric mobility in Portugal.
Source: SG Finance
