LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – In July 2026, worldwide electric vehicle sales grew by 9% compared to the previous year, totaling 1.85 million units globally. The first seven months of 2026 saw a combined total of 11.5 million EVs sold, marking a 4% increase over the same period in 2025. These figures encompass both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence highlighted that July represented the fifth consecutive month of annual growth, indicating the market’s ongoing recovery after a slower start to the year.
Leading the growth was Europe, which experienced a 33% increase in regional sales compared to July 2025, reaching roughly 450,000 vehicles. The continent’s EV sales during January through July climbed 28%. France saw an 81% year-over-year increase in July, while Germany’s sales grew by 46%. The United Kingdom also reported a 43% rise. Despite this, European EV volumes for July declined 17% from June, suggesting a contrasting trend on a monthly basis.
In the European Union, battery-electric cars gained greater market share of new vehicle registrations, with 1.22 million units registered in the first half of 2026. Battery-electric models accounted for 20.7% of new car registrations, up from 15.6% a year earlier, while 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 vehicles.
Europe’s growth outpaces other major EV markets
China remained the largest EV market in terms of volume, despite a 5% decrease in sales during July compared to 2025. The country sold approximately 980,000 EVs, while sales over the first seven months were down 12% from the previous year. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still made up over half of China’s vehicle market during that period. Additionally, Chinese exports of new energy vehicles surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly record for exports abroad.
North America experienced a sharper decline, with sales dropping to about 140,000 electric vehicles in July—a 27% decrease from the previous year. Sales from January through July were 18% lower than in the same period of 2025. The U.S. saw a decline of more than 30% in EV volume in July, following the expiration of federal EV purchase tax credits in September 2025. U.S. electric vehicle sales had already fallen 15% during the second quarter.
Other regions accelerate global EV sales momentum
Markets outside of China, Europe, and North America experienced the most rapid percentage growth in July, with sales jumping 97% year-over-year to approximately 280,000 vehicles. These increases contributed to the overall global growth, even as China and North America posted declines. China still accounted for more than half of the world’s EV sales in July, while Europe represented roughly 25%. North America’s share of worldwide electric vehicle demand remained comparatively small.
The International Energy Agency reported that electric vehicles comprised 24% of global car sales during the first half of 2026. EV sales saw a 4% increase year-on-year in the second quarter, along with a 35% rise from the first quarter, despite overall global car sales falling around 5%. The agency estimates around 23 million electric cars will be sold worldwide in 2026. The 9% year-over-year growth in July brought cumulative global EV sales to 11.5 million units for the first seven months of the year.