Global EV Sales Hit 1.85 Million in July as China Takes Over Half of Market

Data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) showed global electric vehicle sales reached 1.85 million units in July, up 9% year over year but down 10% from June.

Global EV sales totaled 11.5 million units in the first seven months of 2026, up 4% year over year. Growth has varied significantly across major regional markets.

China remained the world’s largest single EV market, with sales of about 980,000 units in July, down 5% year over year and 7% month over month.

Chinese sales accounted for more than half of global EV sales during the month.

China’s cumulative EV sales for the first seven months stood at about 5.9 million units, still down 12% year over year, although the pace of decline has narrowed since the second half of the year began.

Looking at the broader new energy vehicle market, China’s electrification trend is still accelerating.

NEVs accounted for 60.4% of all new vehicle sales in China in July, pushing the monthly penetration rate above 60% for the first time.

Notably, Chinese automakers are increasingly shifting sales growth toward overseas markets as domestic demand remains under pressure.

Chinese new energy passenger vehicle exports reached 540,000 units in July, up 147.8% year over year and setting a new monthly record.

The increase in exports helped offset weaker domestic demand for automakers to some extent.

Europe, meanwhile, has emerged as the most robust growth driver for the global EV market, with EV sales hitting 450,000 units in July, a 33% year-on-year increase.

Although sales fell 17% month over month due to seasonal factors, cumulative sales for the first seven months reached 3 million units, up 28% year over year.

France recorded an 81% year-over-year increase in EV sales in July, lifting its market penetration rate to 37%. Sales in Germany and the UK rose 46% and 43%, respectively.

North America moved in the opposite direction. EV sales in the region totaled just 140,000 units in July, down 27% year over year.

Cumulative sales for the first seven months stood at about 900,000 units, down 18% year over year.

In the United States, sales had shown some temporary improvement in the second quarter, but the year-over-year decline widened again in July to more than 30%.

Markets outside China, Europe and North America also recorded relatively rapid growth.

EV sales across these markets reached 280,000 units in July, up 97% year over year, while cumulative sales for the first seven months totaled about 1.7 million units, up 4%.