China remains the dominant driver of the global EV industry, selling roughly 1.3 million vehicles in September alone—nearly 62% of worldwide demand.
On October 15, market research firm Rho Motion reported that global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) reached 2.1 million units in September 2025, up 26% year-on-year and marking a new record high.
In the first nine months of 2025, global EV sales totaled 14.7 million units, an increase of 26% from a year earlier. China accounted for 9 million of those sales—more than 60% of the global market—maintaining its position as the world’s largest EV hub.
Global EV Sales YTD (January–September 2025) vs. Same Period 2024
- Global: 14.7 million (+26%)
- China: 9 million (+24%)
- Europe: 3 million (+32%)
- North America: 1.5 million (+11%)
- Rest of World: 1.2 million (+48%)
Europe also posted a record month in September, with 427,000 sales, up 36% year-on-year. In the UK, a new license plate cycle combined with purchase subsidies led BEV sales to rise by about 30% and PHEV sales by nearly 60%.
Countries such as Italy and Spain continued to see strong demand under government incentive schemes. Meanwhile, Germany has just approved a new €3 billion ($35 billion) EV stimulation package, which is expected to reaccelerate growth starting next year.
North America likewise set an all-time high in September as U.S. consumers rushed to take advantage of incentives before they expired on September 30. Sales jumped 66% year-on-year for the month.
However, Rho Motion expects the U.S. market to cool significantly in the fourth quarter, as both retail and commercial buyers lose access to federal incentives. Several automakers—including GM, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen—have already begun cutting EV output or suspending some production lines in response.
China remains the dominant driver of the global EV industry, selling roughly 1.3 million vehicles in September alone—nearly 62% of worldwide demand. September is traditionally a peak season for auto sales in China, and growth this year was further boosted by consumers rushing to buy ahead of the phase-out of “old-for-new” trade-in subsidies.
China’s data institution indicates that China sold 1.284 million new energy passenger vehicles in September, up 16% year-on-year and 17% month-on-month, with a penetration rate climbing to 57.3%, another record. BEV sales reached 835,000 units (+32%), while PHEV sales declined 2% to 345,000 units and EREV sales fell 14% to 104,000 units.
Overall, the global EV market remains on an upward trajectory, but regional trends are diverging—with China continuing to serve as the most reliable growth engine.
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