LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – electric vehicle sales worldwide increased by 9% year on year in July 2026, reaching 1.85 million units. This boost pushed the total global sales for the first seven months of the year to 11.5 million vehicles, representing a 4% rise compared to 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence announced these latest figures on Aug. 13, covering both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. July also marked the fifth straight month of annual growth in the global EV market after a sluggish start to 2026.
Europe led the surge among key EV regions in July, with a 33% year-on-year increase to roughly 450,000 units. The continent’s sales expanded by 28% in the first seven months of 2026. France experienced an 81% annual increase in July, achieving a 37% EV market share. Germany saw a 46% growth, while the UK reported a 43% rise. Despite this progress, European EV sales in July were still 17% below June figures.
Throughout the first half of 2026, battery-electric cars continued to grow their market share across Europe. Registrations hit 1.22 million units within the European Union, making up 20.7% of new car sales, up from 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrids contributed an additional 9.8%. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for qualifying new electric passenger cars.
Europe sees strongest July growth while China contracts
China maintained its position as the world’s leading EV market by monthly volume, despite a 5% decline in July to approximately 980,000 units. From January to July, Chinese EV sales were 12% lower than the same period in 2025. Nonetheless, electric vehicles still made up more than half of China’s total vehicle market during the first seven months. Additionally, Chinese exports of new energy vehicles topped 500,000 units in July, marking another monthly record.
In contrast, North American EV sales declined significantly. The region sold about 140,000 units in July, representing a 27% drop from a year earlier. The first seven months of 2026 saw an 18% decrease in sales. Specifically, U.S. EV volumes in July fell over 30% year on year, following the September 2025 expiration of federal purchase tax credits. During the second quarter, U.S. EV sales had already decreased by 15% compared to the previous year.
Regional differences in EV sales patterns continue to widen
Markets outside of China, Europe, and North America experienced the fastest growth in July, with EV sales soaring 97% year on year to roughly 280,000 units. This contributed to the overall increase in global volumes, despite two of these three major regions seeing annual declines. China still accounted for over half of July’s global EV sales by volume, while Europe represented about 25%, and North America remained a comparatively smaller segment of the worldwide market.
Looking at broader 2026 trends, electric vehicles are securing a larger proportion of total car demand. The International Energy Agency reported that EVs comprised 24% of global car sales in the first half. During the second quarter, electric car sales increased 4% year on year and 35% compared to the first quarter. Overall, global car sales declined about 5% during the first six months. Against this background, the 9% rise in EV sales in July brought the cumulative global EV figure for 2026 to 11.5 million units.