Global electric vehicle (EV) sales continued to increase in July, although the latest figures reveal increasingly different trends across the world’s major markets.
According to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 1.85 million EVs were sold globally in July 2026, representing a 9% increase compared with the same month last year.
Global sales for the first seven months of the year reached 11.5 million vehicles, up 4% on the corresponding period in 2025.
However, the overall growth figure masks significant regional differences. Europe is experiencing strong expansion, while China and North America have both recorded declines compared with last year.
Benchmark senior EV analyst George Whitcombe described the market as being characterised by “regional divergence”, with stronger European demand helping to offset weaker performance in some of the world’s other major EV markets.
Europe Records Strong EV Growth
Europe was the standout performer among the major global EV markets during July.
Sales reached approximately 450,000 vehicles, an increase of 33% compared with July 2025. Although monthly sales were 17% lower than June, this reflects the seasonal slowdown that typically affects European vehicle registrations during the summer holiday period.
The longer-term picture remains considerably stronger. Around 3 million EVs were sold across Europe during the first seven months of 2026, representing a 28% increase compared with the same period last year.
The UK was one of the region’s strongest markets, with EV sales increasing by 43% year-on-year in July.
Germany also recorded significant growth, with sales rising by 46%, while France saw an even larger increase of 81%. EVs accounted for 37% of French vehicle sales during the month.
Benchmark linked much of the European growth to the reintroduction or expansion of EV incentives in several major markets. Consumer subsidies and other forms of government support continue to play an important role in encouraging motorists to switch from conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.
For UK businesses and fleet operators, Europe’s continued growth is particularly significant as fleet electrification continues to gather pace. Manufacturers are expanding their electric vehicle ranges, giving businesses a growing choice of models as they consider the transition to electric fleets. The expansion of charging infrastructure is also becoming an important part of the wider transition, particularly for businesses operating electric fleets.
China’s EV Market Remains Under Pressure
China continues to be the world’s largest electric vehicle market, with approximately 980,000 EVs sold during July.
However, this represented a 5% decline compared with July 2025 and was 7% below June’s total.
The weaker monthly figures contributed to a year-to-date decline of 12%, with approximately 5.9 million EVs sold in China during the first seven months of 2026.
Despite the fall in overall sales, Benchmark believes there are indications that the Chinese market is beginning to recover after a difficult start to the year.
Chinese manufacturers are also increasingly turning towards international markets. More than 500,000 new energy vehicles were exported during July, setting another monthly record.
EVs are nevertheless continuing to increase their share of China’s overall vehicle market. More than half of all new vehicle sales during the first seven months of 2026 were electric or otherwise classed as new energy vehicles, with EV penetration exceeding 60% in several individual months.
North American EV Sales Fall Sharply
North America experienced a considerably weaker July, with EV sales falling by 27% year-on-year to around 140,000 vehicles.
The decline means the region’s sales are now 18% lower than they were during the first seven months of 2025.
The US market continues to deal with changes to its EV incentive structure following the removal of the federal tax credit at the end of September 2025.
There had been some improvement during the second quarter, when the year-on-year decline narrowed to 15%, compared with a 33% fall recorded towards the end of the first quarter.
July nevertheless produced a decline of more than 30% in the US, partly because sales were being compared with a particularly strong period immediately before the previous federal incentive was withdrawn.
EV Sales Surge in Other Global Markets
Outside Europe, China and North America, electric vehicle adoption is growing at a much faster rate.
Sales across the rest of the world reached 280,000 vehicles in July, almost double the figure recorded during the same month in 2025.
The 97% year-on-year increase took sales for the first seven months of 2026 to approximately 1.7 million, up 96% on the previous year.
The figures demonstrate how differently the global EV market is developing from one region to another.
Government incentives, consumer demand, vehicle availability and local market conditions are all contributing to significant variations in adoption rates.
What Does This Mean for UK Fleets?
The latest global figures highlight the continuing momentum behind electric vehicle adoption, particularly across Europe.
For UK fleet operators, the strong performance of the European market suggests that electric vehicles will continue to become an increasingly important part of the new vehicle market.
Growing sales are also encouraging manufacturers to expand their EV line-ups, giving businesses and company car drivers a wider choice of electric models across different vehicle segments.
While the global market remains uneven, Europe’s strong performance shows that supportive policy measures and financial incentives can have a significant influence on EV demand.
For businesses reviewing their next company cars or fleet vehicles, the continued growth of the European EV market is another indication that electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important consideration when planning future fleet requirements.
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