LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Global electric vehicle sales increased by 9% year-on-year in July 2026, reaching 1.85 million units. This rise contributed to a total of 11.5 million vehicles sold worldwide during the first seven months of the year, representing a 4% growth compared to 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence disclosed the latest figures on Aug. 13. Their data covers both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. July also marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth in global EV demand after a sluggish start to 2026.
Europe experienced the most robust growth among the major EV markets in July, with sales increasing by 33% from the previous year to roughly 450,000 units. During the first seven months of 2026, the region’s sales rose by 28%. France saw an 81% annual increase in July, reaching a 37% EV penetration rate. Germany recorded a 46% growth, while the United Kingdom reported a 43% rise. Despite this, European EV sales were 17% lower than in June.
Across Europe, battery-electric vehicles continued to expand their market share in the first half of 2026. Registrations hit 1.22 million units within the European Union, accounting for 20.7% of new cars, up from 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrids made up an additional 9.8% of 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 Leads July Growth as China Experiences a Decline
China remained the world’s largest EV market by monthly volume despite a 5% drop in sales from the previous year, totaling about 980,000 vehicles. For the period from January to July, Chinese EV sales were 12% below the same timeframe in 2025. Despite the decline, electric vehicles still accounted for more than half of China’s vehicle market during the first seven months. Additionally, Chinese exports of new energy vehicles surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly export record.
In contrast, North American EV sales declined during July, with approximately 140,000 units sold—down 27% from a year earlier. The first seven months of 2026 also saw an 18% decrease in sales. Specifically, U.S. EV sales in July fell more than 30% compared to the previous year, following the expiration of federal purchase tax credits in September 2025. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales had already dropped 15% year on year.
Regional Variations Highlight Diverging EV Market Trends
Markets outside of China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with EV sales rising 97% year on year to approximately 280,000 units. This contributed to the overall global numbers, even though two of the three major regional markets saw annual declines. China remained the dominant player, accounting for more than half of global EV sales in July. Europe made up about one-quarter of the total, while North America’s share was comparatively smaller in the worldwide electric vehicle landscape.
Looking at broader 2026 data, electric vehicles are capturing an increasingly significant portion of overall car demand. According to the International Energy Agency, EVs constituted 24% of global car sales during the first half. Electric vehicle sales increased by 4% year on year in the second quarter and grew 35% from the first quarter. Meanwhile, global car sales overall declined by approximately 5% during the same period. Against this backdrop, the 9% growth in EVs in July pushed the total global electric vehicle sales for 2026 to 11.5 million units.