LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Worldwide electric vehicle sales grew by 9% in July 2026 compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 1.85 million units globally. For the first seven months of the year, sales amounted to 11.5 million vehicles, marking a 4% increase from the same period in 2025. The figures encompass battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence indicated that July marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth, extending the market’s recovery after a sluggish start to the year.
Among the world’s leading electric vehicle markets, Europe showed the highest growth in July. Regional sales jumped 33% from the previous year to approximately 450,000 vehicles. From January to July, EV sales across Europe increased by 28%. France experienced an 81% year-over-year rise in July, while Germany saw growth of 46%. The United Kingdom’s sales grew 43%. Despite the overall monthly increase, European EV volumes declined 17% from June, reflecting a different trend in the month-to-month comparison.
Battery-electric vehicles gained a larger share of new car registrations across the European Union, with registrations reaching 1.22 million units in the first half of 2026. These models now represent 20.7% of new car registrations, up from 15.6% a year earlier. Plug-in hybrids accounted for an additional 9.8% of new registrations. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on August 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe demonstrates strongest growth among leading EV markets
China remained the largest electric vehicle market by volume despite experiencing weaker sales in July. The country recorded about 980,000 EV sales, which is a 5% decrease compared to July 2025. The first seven months’ sales were 12% lower than the same period last year. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still accounted for over half of China’s vehicle market during that time. Additionally, Chinese new energy vehicle exports surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly record for overseas shipments.
North American EV sales declined more sharply, with about 140,000 units sold in July. This represented a 27% drop from the previous year. For January through July, sales were 18% below the figures from the same period in 2025. In the United States, electric vehicle volumes fell over 30% year on year in July, following the expiration of federal EV purchase tax credits in September 2025. U.S. EV sales had already decreased 15% during the second quarter.
Other regions contribute to the global upward trend in EV sales
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with sales jumping 97% year on year to roughly 280,000 vehicles. These gains supported the overall global increase, despite China and North America seeing declines in annual volumes. China still accounted for more than half of July’s worldwide EV sales, while Europe contributed about a quarter. North America represented a smaller share of the global electric vehicle demand.
According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles made up 24% of global car sales during the first half of 2026. EV sales rose 4% compared to the previous year during the second quarter and increased 35% from the first quarter. Meanwhile, global car sales overall declined by about 5%. The agency estimates about 23 million electric cars will be sold worldwide in 2026. The 9% annual increase in July raised the total cumulative global electric vehicle sales to 11.5 million units in the first seven months of the year.