LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Worldwide electric vehicle sales experienced a 9% growth year on year in July 2026, reaching a total of 1.85 million units. This rise contributed to a cumulative sales volume of 11.5 million vehicles over the first seven months of the year, marking a 4% increase compared to 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence released these latest figures on August 13, encompassing both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. July also signified the fifth straight month of annual growth in global EV demand after a sluggish start to 2026.
Among the leading EV markets, Europe recorded the most robust expansion in July. Sales of electric vehicles climbed 33% from the previous year to approximately 450,000 units. In the first seven months of 2026, regional sales grew by 28%. France saw an 81% year-over-year increase in July, reaching an EV market penetration of 37%. Germany experienced a 46% growth, while the United Kingdom reported a 43% rise. Despite this progress, European EV sales in July were still 17% below June figures.
Battery-electric vehicles continued their upward trend in market share across Europe during the initial half of 2026. Registrations hit 1.22 million units within the European Union, representing 20.7% of all new vehicle registrations—up from 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrids made up an additional 9.8% of new registrations. Additionally, Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy scheme on August 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe Shows Growth in July While China Experiences Contraction
China continued to be the largest EV market globally by monthly volume, despite a decline in July. Sales dropped 5% from the previous year to nearly 980,000 vehicles. From January through July, Chinese EV sales were 12% lower compared to the same period in 2025. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still accounted for over half of China’s total vehicle market during these months. Chinese exports of new energy vehicles also surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly export record.
In contrast, North American EV sales declined notably in July, totaling roughly 140,000 units—down 27% from the same month a year earlier. The first seven months of 2026 saw an 18% reduction in EV sales compared to the previous year. In the United States, July EV volume fell more than 30% year on year, a consequence of the expiration of federal purchase tax credits in September 2025. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales had already fallen 15% compared to the previous year.
Regional Variations Highlight Divergent EV Market Trends
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest percentage growth in July, with electric vehicle sales soaring 97% year on year to around 280,000 units. While this contributed to the global total, two of the three largest regional markets—China and Europe—still recorded annual declines. China continued to dominate with more than half of worldwide July EV sales by volume, followed by Europe at roughly one-quarter. North America remained a smaller segment of the global electric vehicle market.
Looking at broader 2026 data, electric vehicles are taking an increasingly significant share of overall car sales. The International Energy Agency indicated that EVs made up 24% of global car sales during the first half of the year. During the second quarter alone, electric vehicle sales increased 4% year on year and surged 35% from the first quarter. Meanwhile, global car sales overall declined by approximately 5% during the first half. Against this context, July’s 9% growth in EV sales brought the total global electric vehicle sales for 2026 to 11.5 million units.