LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / RankWire.AI / – Global electric vehicle sales rose 9% year on year in July 2026 to 1.85 million units. The increase lifted worldwide sales for the first seven months to 11.5 million vehicles, up 4% from 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reported the latest figures on Aug. 13. Its data covers battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. July also marked a fifth consecutive month of annual growth in global EV demand after a weaker start to 2026.
Europe recorded the strongest growth among major EV markets in July. Electric vehicle sales rose 33% from a year earlier to about 450,000 units. The region’s sales increased 28% during the first seven months of 2026. France posted an 81% annual increase in July and reached a 37% EV penetration rate. Germany recorded 46% growth, while the United Kingdom reported a 43% increase. European EV sales were also 17% lower than in June.
Battery-electric cars continued to gain market share across Europe during the first half of 2026. Registrations reached 1.22 million units across the European Union, accounting for 20.7% of new cars. The share stood at 15.6% during the same period last year. Plug-in hybrids accounted for another 9.8% of registrations. Spain also opened its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4. The program provides up to 4,500 euros toward eligible new electric passenger cars.
Europe leads July growth as China contracts
China remained the world’s largest electric vehicle market by monthly volume despite a decline in July. Sales fell 5% from a year earlier to about 980,000 vehicles. For January through July, Chinese EV sales were 12% below the same period in 2025. Electric vehicles still accounted for more than half of China’s vehicle market during the first seven months. Chinese new energy vehicle exports also exceeded 500,000 units in July, setting another monthly record.
North American electric vehicle sales moved in the opposite direction from Europe. The region recorded about 140,000 EV sales in July, down 27% from a year earlier. Sales were 18% lower during the first seven months of 2026. In the United States, July EV volumes fell more than 30% year on year. The comparison follows the September 2025 expiration of federal purchase tax credits. U.S. EV sales had declined 15% during the second quarter from a year earlier.
Regional markets show sharply different EV sales trends
Markets outside China, Europe and North America posted the fastest percentage increase during July. Electric vehicle sales in those markets rose 97% year on year to roughly 280,000 units. The increase added to global volumes while two of the three largest regional markets recorded annual declines. China still represented more than half of worldwide July EV sales by volume. Europe accounted for about one-quarter, while North America remained a substantially smaller part of the global electric vehicle market.
Broader 2026 data also shows electric vehicles taking a larger share of total car demand. The International Energy Agency said EVs represented 24% of global car sales during the first half. Electric car sales rose 4% year on year during the second quarter and increased 35% from the first quarter. Overall global car sales fell about 5% during the first half. Against that backdrop, July’s 9% EV increase lifted cumulative 2026 global electric vehicle sales to 11.5 million units.