LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – In July 2026, global electric vehicle sales increased by 9% compared to the same month last year, reaching a total of 1.85 million units globally. For the first seven months of the year, sales accumulated to 11.5 million vehicles, marking a 4% increase over the same period in 2025. These figures include both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reported that July marked a fifth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, continuing the market’s recovery after a sluggish start to the year.
Among the world’s major EV markets, Europe saw the strongest growth during July. Regional sales jumped 33% from the previous year, reaching approximately 450,000 units. From January through July, EV sales across Europe grew by 28%. France experienced an 81% year-on-year increase in July, while Germany’s growth was 46%. The United Kingdom registered a 43% rise. However, European sales volume declined 17% from June, indicating a different trend in monthly performance.
Battery-electric vehicle registrations also gained a larger share of new car registrations within the European Union. In the first half of 2026, registrations totaled 1.22 million units. Battery-electric models now account for 20.7% of new car registrations, up from 15.6% in the previous year. Plug-in hybrids made up an additional 9.8% of registrations. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on August 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for qualified new electric passenger cars.
Europe experiences the strongest growth among key EV markets
China remained the largest electric vehicle market by volume despite a decline in July sales. The country sold about 980,000 EVs, which is a 5% decrease from July 2025. The sales for the first seven months of the year were 12% below the same period last year. Despite the decline, electric vehicles still represented over half of China’s total vehicle market during that time. Additionally, Chinese new energy vehicle exports surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly record for exports abroad.
In North America, sales declined more sharply, falling to roughly 140,000 electric vehicles in July. This represented a 27% decrease compared to the previous year. For the January–July period, sales were 18% lower than the same months in 2025. U.S. EV volumes dropped by more than 30% year-on-year in July. The expiration of federal EV purchase tax credits in September 2025 has contributed to the decline, with U.S. electric vehicle sales already down 15% in the second quarter.
Other regions contribute to global EV sales momentum
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with sales soaring 97% year-over-year to approximately 280,000 units. These gains supported the overall global increase, despite China and North America seeing declines. China still accounted for more than half of all EV sales in July worldwide, while Europe made up roughly a quarter. North America’s share of global demand remained relatively small.
According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles accounted for 24% of global car sales during the first half of 2026. EV sales grew by 4% year-on-year in the second quarter, and increased by 35% from the first quarter. Meanwhile, overall global car sales declined by approximately 5%. The agency estimates that around 23 million electric cars will be sold globally in 2026. The 9% yearly rise in July boosted total worldwide electric vehicle sales to 11.5 million units for the first seven months of the year.