LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Global electric vehicle sales expanded by 9% compared to the previous year in July 2026, reaching 1.85 million units. This growth pushed the total number of vehicles sold worldwide in the first seven months to 11.5 million, representing a 4% rise from 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence provided the latest figures on Aug. 13, including data on battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The month of July also marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth in global EV demand following a sluggish start to 2026.
Among the leading EV markets, Europe experienced the most significant growth in July. Sales of electric vehicles increased by 33% from the previous year, totaling approximately 450,000 units. During the first seven months of 2026, sales in the region grew by 28%. France saw an 81% annual rise in July and achieved a 37% EV penetration rate. Germany reported a 46% increase, while the United Kingdom experienced a 43% growth. Despite this, European EV sales in July were 17% lower than in June.
Battery-electric vehicles continued to secure a larger market share across Europe during the first half of 2026. Registrations in the European Union reached 1.22 million units, making up 20.7% of new car sales, compared to 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for an additional 9.8% of registrations. On August 4, Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program, offering up to 4,500 euros to eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe’s July growth outpaces China, which contracts
Despite a decline in July, China remained the world’s largest electric vehicle market in terms of monthly volume, with sales dropping 5% year-on-year to approximately 980,000 vehicles. From January to July, Chinese EV sales were 12% below the same period in 2025. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still comprised over half of China’s vehicle market during these months. Additionally, Chinese new energy vehicle exports surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting a new monthly record.
In contrast, North American EV sales moved downward in July, with around 140,000 units sold, representing a 27% decrease from the previous year. Sales during the first seven months of 2026 also fell by 18%. In the United States, July EV sales declined by more than 30% compared to the previous year, following the September 2025 expiration of federal purchase tax credits. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales had already decreased by 15% year-on-year.
Regional markets display distinct EV sales trajectories in July
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest growth percentage-wise in July, with electric vehicle sales rising 97% year on year to about 280,000 units. This contributed to the overall global volume increase, despite two of these three major regional markets showing annual declines. China remained the dominant market by volume, accounting for more than half of worldwide July EV sales, while Europe accounted for approximately a quarter. North America’s share of the global electric vehicle market remained comparatively small.
Looking at broader 2026 trends, electric vehicles are capturing a growing portion of total vehicle demand globally. The International Energy Agency indicated that EVs made up 24% of worldwide car sales in the first half of 2026. During the second quarter, electric vehicle sales increased by 4% year-on-year and surged 35% from the first quarter. Meanwhile, global car sales overall declined by about 5% in the first half. Against this backdrop, the 9% increase in EV sales in July pushed cumulative global electric vehicle sales for 2026 to 11.5 million units.