LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Global electric vehicle sales increased 9% in July 2026 from a year earlier, reaching 1.85 million units worldwide. Sales for the first seven months totaled 11.5 million vehicles, up 4% from the same period in 2025. The figures cover battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said July delivered a fifth straight month of annual growth. The result extended the market’s recovery after a slower opening to the year.
Europe led growth among the world’s major electric vehicle markets during July. Regional sales rose 33% from a year earlier to about 450,000 vehicles. EV sales across Europe increased 28% during the January through July period. France recorded an 81% annual rise in July, while Germany posted growth of 46%. The United Kingdom registered a 43% increase. European volumes still fell 17% from June, showing a different trend in the monthly comparison.
Battery-electric cars also increased their share of new vehicle registrations across the European Union. Registrations reached 1.22 million units during the first half of 2026. Battery-electric models accounted for 20.7% of new cars, compared with 15.6% a year earlier. Plug-in hybrids represented another 9.8% of registrations. Spain opened its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4. The program offers up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe posts strongest growth among major EV markets
China remained the largest electric vehicle market by volume despite weaker July sales. The country recorded about 980,000 EV sales, down 5% from July 2025. Sales during the first seven months were 12% below the same period last year. Electric vehicles still represented more than half of China’s vehicle market during that period. Chinese new energy vehicle exports exceeded 500,000 units in July. That total marked another monthly record for shipments abroad.
North America reported a steeper decline as sales fell to about 140,000 electric vehicles in July. The regional total dropped 27% from a year earlier. Sales for January through July were 18% lower than during the same period in 2025. U.S. electric vehicle volumes fell more than 30% year on year in July. Federal EV purchase tax credits expired in September 2025. U.S. electric vehicle sales had already declined 15% during the second quarter.
Other markets add momentum to global electric vehicle sales
Electric vehicle markets outside China, Europe and North America recorded the fastest percentage growth in July. Sales across those markets surged 97% from a year earlier to about 280,000 vehicles. Their gains supported the worldwide increase while China and North America posted annual declines. China still generated more than half of global July EV sales. Europe accounted for roughly one-quarter of the total. North America represented a much smaller share of worldwide electric vehicle demand.
The International Energy Agency said electric vehicles represented 24% of global car sales during the first half of 2026. EV sales increased 4% year on year during the second quarter. They also rose 35% from the first quarter, while overall global car sales fell about 5%. The International Energy Agency has projected about 23 million electric car sales worldwide for 2026. July’s 9% annual increase lifted cumulative global electric vehicle sales to 11.5 million units through the first seven months.