Global EV sales 9% higher in July 2026

Global sales of electric vehicles were 9% higher in July 2026, compared to the same month a year earlier, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

A total of 1.85 million electric vehicles were sold during the month, while over the first seven months of the year, sales totalled 11.5 million units, up 4% on the same period in 2025.

‘Regional divergence’

“The global EV market continues to be defined by regional divergence,” commented George Whitcombe, senior EV analyst, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. “However, year-to-date EV sales growth increased yet again in July 2026 following the turbulent start to the year in both China and North America.”

In Europe, July sales were up 33% on the corresponding period a year earlier, to 450,000 units, while in the year to date, sales totalled around 3 million, representing growth of 28%.

On a country-by-country basis, France recorded an 81% increase in EV sales in July, with EVs accounting for 37% of vehicle sales. Germany and the UK also recorded increases of 46% and 43%, respectively.

“Europe’s legislative drivers and subsidies continue to support the strong growth in the region, with EV sales up 33% year-on-year,” said Whitcombe. “What stands out about Europe is the subsidy support currently available in its major markets, which is enabling them to be prominent performers in terms of EV sales growth within the region.”

Rest of the world

China remains the largest global EV market, with 980,000 unit sales in July, however this was down 5% on the same month the previous year, and down 7% on the month-on-month basis. In the year to date, EV penetration has now exceeded 50%, compared with 48% in the same period last year.

“China resumed showing signs of recovery after its slow start to the year,” Whitcombe added. “However, manufacturers continue to turn to overseas markets after EV exports hit another record high in July.”

Elsewhere, North America recorded a 27% year-on-year decline in July, with year-to-date sales down 18%. This was largely driven by the US, where July sales fell by more than 30%.

“While the North American EV market showed a much more positive picture in Q2 than it did in Q1, July marked the return of more significant, negative year-on-year growth rates,” said Whitcombe.

Outside China, Europe and North America, EV sales reached 280,000 units in July, up 97% year on year. Year-to-date sales in these markets reached 1.7 million, representing growth of 96%, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said. Read more here.

Electric Vehicle Sales Snapshot – YTD 2026 (January–July)