Global EV sales rose in July – except in North America
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- Global EV sales rose 9% in July to approximately 1.85 million vehicles, bringing 2026 year-to-date sales to 11.5 million (up 4% from the same period in 2025), according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
- Europe emerged as the clear growth engine, with July sales hitting 450,000 (up 33% YoY) and year-to-date sales reaching 3 million (up 28%), driven by France's 81% surge, Germany's 46% climb, and the UK's 43% gain.
- Spain opened its new Auto+ incentive program on August 4, offering buyers up to €4,500 ($5,190) with retroactive eligibility for purchases dating back to January 1 — part of a broader European subsidy push over the past 18 months.
- China recorded 980,000 EV sales in July (down 5% YoY), but battery-electric-only sales rose 6% while plug-in hybrids fell 21.1%, extended-range EVs dropped 16.5%, and gas cars plunged 44% — with NEVs hitting a record 65.1% share of retail auto sales.
- North American EV sales dropped 27% YoY to 140,000 in July, with US sales falling more than 30%, attributed to the loss of federal EV support and the Trump administration's elimination of the federal EV tax credit on September 30, 2025.
- Rest of World sales nearly doubled to 280,000 in July, reaching 1.7 million year-to-date (up 96% YoY) — the fastest-growing segment tracked by Benchmark.
- Chinese automakers exported a monthly record of more than 500,000 NEVs in July, increasingly seeking growth overseas as their domestic market shifts.
- Benchmark senior EV analyst George Whitcombe described the market as 'defined by regional divergence,' a pattern underscored by the simultaneous European acceleration and North American retreat.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's September 2025 elimination of the federal EV tax credit coincides with a 27% North American sales collapse, while Europe's subsidy push — France up 81%, Spain's new €4,500 program — drives a 33% regional surge. China is exporting 500,000+ NEVs monthly, reshaping competitive pressure on every market regardless of direction.
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