LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – In July 2026, worldwide electric vehicle sales experienced a 9% increase compared to the same month last year, reaching 1.85 million units. This uptick contributed to a total of 11.5 million EVs sold in the first seven months of the year, representing a 4% rise over 2025 figures. The latest data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence was published on August 13 and encompasses battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. Notably, July marked the fifth consecutive month of yearly growth in global EV demand after a sluggish start to 2026.
Among the key markets, Europe demonstrated the most significant expansion in July, with sales increasing by 33% year on year to approximately 450,000 units. The region’s sales growth over the first seven months of 2026 reached 28%. France saw an 81% annual rise in July, attaining a 37% EV penetration rate, while Germany experienced a 46% growth. The United Kingdom also reported a 43% increase. However, European EV sales in July were 17% lower than in June.
Across Europe, battery-electric vehicles continued to gain market share during the first half of 2026. Registrations across the European Union hit 1.22 million units, accounting for 20.7% of new car sales, up from 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrid models represented an additional 9.8% of registrations. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on August 4, offering up to 4,500 euros toward qualifying new electric passenger cars.
Europe outpaces China in July growth while China experiences a decline
China, despite a 5% decrease in sales from the previous year to about 980,000 vehicles in July, remains the world’s largest EV market by monthly volume. For the January through July period, Chinese EV sales fell 12% compared to the same months in 2025. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still constituted over half of China’s vehicle market during this timeframe. Additionally, Chinese new energy vehicle exports surpassed 500,000 units in July, marking another record month.
In contrast, North American EV sales declined in July, with approximately 140,000 units sold—representing a 27% drop from the previous year. The first seven months of 2026 saw an 18% decrease in sales. In the U.S., July EV sales fell more than 30% year on year, following the expiration of federal purchase tax credits in September 2025. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales also declined 15% compared to the same period in the previous year.
Distinct regional trends highlight contrasting EV market developments
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with electric vehicle sales increasing by 97% year on year to around 280,000 units. This surge contributed to the global total, despite two of the three major regional markets witnessing declines. China remained the dominant contributor, accounting for more than half of worldwide EV sales in July. Europe made up roughly one-quarter, with North America holding a considerably smaller share of the global electric vehicle market.
Further data for 2026 indicates that electric vehicles are capturing a larger portion of overall car demand. The International Energy Agency noted that EVs represented 24% of global car sales during the first half of the year. Sales of electric cars increased by 4% year on year during the second quarter and grew 35% from the first quarter. During this period, global car sales overall declined by about 5%. Against this backdrop, the 9% increase in EVs in July pushed the cumulative global electric vehicle sales for 2026 to 11.5 million units.