Global EV sales post fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth
Global sales of battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids recorded a fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth in July. Europe expanded by a third from a year earlier, while sales declined in both China and North America.
According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 1.85 million battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were sold worldwide in July, up 9% year on year. Sales for the first seven months of 2026 reached 11.5 million vehicles, 4% more than in the same period last year.
Europe surges as China loses momentum
Europe delivered the strongest growth, with around 450,000 battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids sold in July. That was 33% more than in the same month last year, while sales for the first seven months rose by 28%. July sales increased by 81% year on year in France, 46% in Germany and 43% in the UK.
Europe's momentum is being supported by national incentive schemes, tighter emissions rules and a growing choice of smaller, more affordable electric cars. Benchmark highlighted this trend in its June market review, pointing to new compact models such as the Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID.Polo and Cupra Raval as potential drivers of further growth.
China moved in the opposite direction. July sales fell 5% year on year to 980,000 battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers are increasing exports as they look to offset weaker domestic demand with sales in Europe and other overseas markets.
North American sales fall sharply
North America recorded the steepest decline, with July sales down 27% year on year to around 140,000 vehicles. One of the main factors is the loss of US federal clean-vehicle tax credits, which are no longer available for vehicles acquired after 30 September 2025.
Outside China, Europe and North America, however, sales jumped 97% to 280,000 vehicles. That suggests EV growth is spreading increasingly rapidly beyond the regions that have traditionally dominated global demand.
The diverging regional trends are quickly reshaping the global market. China was until recently the main engine of worldwide EV growth, but Europe has emerged as one of the key growth drivers in 2026. The International Energy Agency's latest outlook expects electric cars to account for 29% of global new-car sales this year, with worldwide electric-car sales growing by around 10% from 2025.
