Global EV Sales Hit 18.5M Jan-Nov, China's Share at 62.7%

China’s EV market led globally in Jan-Nov, Europe posted the strongest growth, while the US market weakened as tax credits expired.

Focusing on the electric vehicle and battery supply chain, the research firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports that global EV sales reached 2 million units in November 2025.

Looking at the cumulative data from January to November this year, global sales totaled 18.5 million units, representing a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Below is a breakdown of sales performance by key markets:

Global: 18.5 million, +21% year-on-year
China: 11.6 million, +19% year-on-year
Europe: 3.8 million, +33% year-on-year
North America: 1.7 million, -1% year-on-year
Rest of the World: 1.5 million, +48% year-on-year

Bar graph showing electric vehicle sales data for November 2025, with total sales at 2 million units. The graph displays year-on-year and month-on-month growth, along with sales breakdown by region: China, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World. — Global Electric Vehicle Sales Trend Chart

Chinese Market

The data shows that the Chinese market continues to lead globally, with cumulative sales reaching 11.6 million units from January to November, a 19% year-on-year increase, accounting for 62.7% of the total global market.

BYD Group performed particularly strongly, with exports hitting a record high of 131,935 units in November, surpassing the previous record of around 90,000 units set in June 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence notes that BYD’s sales in Europe are expected to more than quadruple in 2025, reaching approximately 200,000 units, while doubling in Southeast Asia and growing by over 50% in South America.

A crowd of people holding umbrellas gathers around a BYD electric vehicle display in a rainy outdoor event setting, featuring multiple cars and a large digital screen in the background. — BYD Debuts at Munich Motor Show

European Market

The European market showed the strongest growth momentum, with year-on-year sales increasing by 36% in November 2025. This included a 35% rise in pure electric vehicle sales and a 39% increase in plug-in hybrid sales.

Thanks to policy incentives and a wider range of new vehicle options in the local market, cumulative sales in Europe from January to November reached 3.8 million units, marking a 33% year-on-year growth.

Specifically, in November, the French EV market saw its first monthly growth of the year. This was driven by an expanded model lineup from the Volkswagen Group and Renault Group, alongside the French government’s “social leasing” program aimed at helping lower-income groups transition to electric vehicles.

Additionally, the UK market added five new EV models eligible for the full £3,750 (approximately $4,400) subsidy, including the Nissan Leaf, MINI Countryman, Renault 4, Renault 5, and Alpine A290.

A top-down view of a white electric vehicle parked in a lot, showcasing its sleek design and black roof. — The MINI Cooper

North American Market

In contrast, sales in the North American market remained sluggish following the expiration of U.S. government tax credits, resulting in negative growth. Cumulative sales from January to November totaled 1.7 million units, a 1% decrease year-on-year.

It is worth noting that the U.S. government’s tax credit policy ended on September 30, 2025, leading to a significant drop in sales in October. Although Kia, Hyundai, Honda, and Subaru saw month-on-month growth in their pure electric vehicle sales in November, overall sales remained significantly lower than during the subsidy period.