LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Worldwide electric vehicle sales experienced a 9% increase year on year in July 2026, reaching a total of 1.85 million units. This growth contributed to a cumulative sales figure of 11.5 million vehicles for the first seven months of the year, representing a 4% rise compared to 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence provided these latest figures on August 13, with data encompassing both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. July marked the fifth consecutive month of annual growth in the global EV market after a sluggish start to 2026.
Among the major EV markets, Europe demonstrated the strongest expansion in July, with sales increasing 33% from the same month last year to approximately 450,000 units. Over the first seven months of 2026, the region’s EV sales grew by 28%. France saw an 81% year-on-year rise in July, achieving a 37% penetration rate for electric vehicles. Germany’s growth stood at 46%, while the United Kingdom experienced a 43% boost. Despite this, European EV sales in July were 17% lower compared to June.
Throughout the first half of 2026, battery-electric cars continued to expand their market presence across Europe. Registrations for these vehicles reached 1.22 million across the European Union, accounting for 20.7% of all new car registrations, up from 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrids contributed an additional 9.8% of registrations. Additionally, Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on August 4, offering subsidies of up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe experiences growth in July as China shows signs of contraction
China maintained its position as the largest electric vehicle market globally by monthly volume despite experiencing a decline in July. Sales dropped 5% compared to the previous year, totaling around 980,000 vehicles. From January through July, Chinese EV sales were 12% below the same period in 2025. Nevertheless, electric vehicles still represented over half of China’s vehicle market during the first seven months. Furthermore, Chinese exports of new energy vehicles surpassed 500,000 units in July, setting a new monthly record.
Contrasting the European trend, North American EV sales declined during July, with approximately 140,000 units sold, representing a 27% decrease from the same month last year. The first seven months of 2026 also saw an 18% reduction in sales. In the United States, July’s EV sales fell more than 30% year on year, following the expiration of federal purchase tax credits in September 2025. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales had already declined 15% compared to the same period in the previous year.
Distinct regional trends emerge in EV sales performance
Markets outside China, Europe, and North America exhibited the highest percentage increase in July, with EV sales rising 97% year on year to about 280,000 units. While this growth boosted global volumes, two of the three largest regional markets, China and Europe, experienced declines on an annual basis. Nonetheless, China continued to account for more than half of all EV sales worldwide in July, with Europe making up roughly one-quarter, and North America remaining a significantly smaller component of the global market.
The broader data for 2026 also indicates that electric vehicles are gaining a larger share of overall car demand. The International Energy Agency reported that during the first half of the year, EVs made up 24% of global car sales. In the second quarter alone, electric vehicle sales increased by 4% compared to the previous quarter and grew 35% from the first quarter. Despite an approximate 5% decline in global car sales during the same period, July’s 9% increase in EV sales contributed to a cumulative total of 11.5 million electric vehicles sold worldwide in 2026 thus far.