Europe Leads Global EV Sales as Chinese Exports Surge
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- Global EV sales reached 1.6 million units in April 2026, a 6% year‑over‑year increase but a 9% drop from March.
- Europe posted 27% YoY EV sales growth in April 2026, surpassing 400,000 units, with Germany up 33% YTD, France 36% YTD, and Italy nearly doubling thanks to subsidies.
- Chinese‑built EVs accounted for 22% of European EV sales in 2026, up from 19% in 2025, and Chinese makers are expanding local production, with Leapmotor’s B10 SUV to be built at Stellantis’ Zaragoza plant and XPeng’s P7+ assembled at Magna Steyr in Austria.
- North America EV sales fell 25% YTD in the US and Canada, whereas Mexico’s market surged nearly 50% after a wave of Chinese EV imports before a 50% tariff was imposed.
- Rivian began customer production of its R2 electric SUV at its Normal, Illinois plant and announced plans to raise its annual output.
Why it matters: European manufacturers and Chinese EV makers capture a larger share of a booming market, while US and Canadian firms lose sales, prompting policy incentives and production shifts; Mexico’s import‑driven surge reshapes regional trade dynamics.
