LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Worldwide electric vehicle sales grew by 9% in July 2026 compared to the previous year, totaling 1.85 million units globally. During the first seven months, sales reached 11.5 million vehicles, a 4% increase from the same period in 2025. These figures include battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence noted that July marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth, helping to extend the market’s recovery following a slower start to the year.
Leading the growth among the world’s primary EV markets, Europe experienced a 33% increase in regional sales during July, reaching roughly 450,000 vehicles. EV sales across the continent also rose by 28% between January and July. France reported an 81% year-on-year increase in July, Germany saw a 46% rise, and the United Kingdom registered a 43% growth. Despite these gains, European EV volumes still declined by 17% compared to June, indicating a different trend on a monthly basis.
Battery-electric vehicles gained further market share among new vehicle registrations in the European Union, with registrations hitting 1.22 million units in the first half of 2026. They accounted for 20.7% of new car registrations, up from 15.6% a year earlier. Plug-in hybrids made up an additional 9.8%. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for qualifying new electric passenger cars.
Europe leads the way with strongest growth among key EV markets
Despite a weaker July, China remained the largest EV market by volume, with approximately 980,000 EVs sold, reflecting a 5% decline from July 2025. For the first seven months, sales were down 12% compared to the same period last year. Still, electric vehicles made up more than half of China’s vehicle market during this timeframe. Chinese exports of new energy vehicles surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly record for shipments abroad.
In North America, a sharper decline was observed, with sales dropping to about 140,000 electric vehicles in July—a 27% decrease from the previous year. From January to July, sales were 18% lower than during the same months in 2025. U.S. electric vehicle sales fell over 30% in July alone, following the expiration of federal EV purchase tax credits in September 2025. The second quarter had already seen a 15% decline in U.S. EV sales year on year.
Other regions contribute to the global growth trend in EV sales
Outside China, Europe, and North America, the electric vehicle markets experienced the highest percentage gains in July, with sales jumping 97% from a year earlier to approximately 280,000 vehicles. These increases supported the overall global growth, even as China and North America posted annual declines. China still accounted for more than half of global EV sales in July, while Europe contributed about one-quarter, with North America representing a smaller share of the worldwide demand.
According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles constituted 24% of global car sales in the first half of 2026. EV sales increased by 4% year-on-year in the second quarter and rose by 35% from the first quarter, while overall global car sales declined by roughly 5%. The agency projects around 23 million electric car sales worldwide in 2026. The 9% annual growth in July raised total global EV sales through July to 11.5 million units, reflecting the market’s ongoing expansion.