Global EV Sales Hit 1.85 Million in July 2026, Up 9%, as Europe Surges 33% and North America Falls 27%
· EVTrader EV News
Global electric vehicle sales reached 1.85 million units in July 2026 — a 9% year-on-year increase and lifting year-to-date volume to 11.5 million — while Europe posted a 33% rise to 450,000 units and North America fell 27% to around 140,000 units, widening a regional divide driven by divergent policy environments.
Global electric vehicle sales reached 1.85 million units in July 2026, up 9% year-on-year, according to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI). Year-to-date global EV volume through July now stands at 11.5 million units.
Regional performance diverged sharply. Europe posted the strongest growth, with approximately 450,000 EVs sold in July — a 33% year-on-year increase — driven by expanded government incentive programmes, rising fuel prices and a growing selection of competitively priced models from both European and Chinese manufacturers. The July result represented a seasonal step-back from June's elevated volumes, but the underlying year-on-year trend remained robust.
North America continued to contract, with sales falling approximately 27% year-on-year to around 140,000 units. The weakness reflects the lasting impact of the US federal EV tax credit's expiry on 30 September 2025, which has not been replaced. The absence of that incentive has weighed heavily on US consumer demand, leaving North America as the principal outlier in an otherwise expanding global market.
China, the world's largest EV market, showed early signs of domestic stabilisation while manufacturers continued redirecting output to export markets at record levels, as reported separately in BYD's July sales figures. The 9% global growth rate marks a moderation from the 35% jump recorded in the second quarter, consistent with expectations that year-on-year comparisons would become more demanding as 2026 progressed.