LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – In July 2026, global electric vehicle sales experienced a 9% increase from the previous year, totaling 1.85 million units worldwide. The cumulative sales for the first seven months reached 11.5 million vehicles, reflecting a 4% rise compared to the same period in 2025. These figures include both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, July marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth, signaling a continued recovery after a slow start to the year.
During July, Europe stood out as the top performer among major electric vehicle markets, with regional sales increasing by 33% from a year earlier to approximately 450,000 units. From January through July, EV sales across Europe grew by 28%. France saw an 81% annual rise in July, while Germany reported a 46% increase. The United Kingdom experienced a 43% growth. Despite these gains, European EV volumes in July decreased by 17% compared to June, indicating a different trend in monthly growth.
Across the European Union, battery-electric cars further expanded their share of new vehicle registrations. During the first half of 2026, registrations reached 1.22 million units. Battery-electric models now make up 20.7% of new cars, a notable increase from 15.6% in the previous year. Plug-in hybrids accounted for an additional 9.8% of new registrations. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe shows the strongest growth among leading EV markets
China maintained its position as the largest EV market by volume despite weaker sales in July. The country reported approximately 980,000 EV sales, down 5% from July 2025. The first seven months of 2026 saw sales 12% below last year’s comparable period. Nonetheless, electric vehicles accounted for over half of China’s vehicle market during that timeframe. 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, with around 140,000 electric vehicles sold in July, representing a 27% drop from the previous year. For January through July, sales were 18% lower than during the same months in 2025. U.S. EV sales in July fell by more than 30% year-on-year, following the expiration of federal EV purchase tax credits in September 2025. The second quarter had already seen a 15% decline in U.S. electric vehicle sales.
Additional markets contribute to the global momentum for EVs
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with sales jumping 97% year-over-year to about 280,000 units. These gains supported the overall global increase, even as China and North America faced declines. China still accounted for more than half of the world’s EV sales in July, while Europe contributed around a quarter. North America’s share of worldwide EV demand remained relatively small.
The International Energy Agency reported that electric vehicles made up 24% of global car sales during the first half of 2026. During the second quarter, EV sales grew 4% year over year and increased 35% from the first quarter, despite an overall decline of about 5% in global car sales. The IEA projects approximately 23 million electric cars will be sold worldwide in 2026. The 9% rise in July helped push total global electric vehicle sales through July to 11.5 million units, marking a significant milestone in the market’s expansion.