Global plug-in sales in August 2026: +2 percent compared to the previous year

Image: BYD (illustrative)

According to analysts at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 1.83 million electric vehicles (pure battery cars + plug-in hybrids) were sold worldwide in August 2026. This represented a 2 percent increase compared to the previous year’s same month, while sales dropped by 1 percent on a monthly basis. From January to August, global sales totaled 13.4 million vehicles, which was 4 percent higher than the same period in the previous year.

In August, China sold 1.03 million electric vehicles. Sales were 11 percent lower than the previous year’s figure but increased by 4 percent compared to July. From January to August, 6.9 million vehicles were sold, 12 percent fewer than in the same period last year. Electric vehicles accounted for over 60 percent of China’s total passenger car market for the fourth consecutive month.

Europe saw 0.38 million electric vehicles sold in August, representing a 36 percent increase from a year earlier. Sales dropped by 15 percent compared to the previous month. Analysts estimate that from January to August, 3.3 million vehicles were sold, with a growth rate of 29 percent. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom together account for more than half of Europe’s electric vehicle sales.

In North America, 0.14 million electric vehicles were sold in August. This represented a 33 percent decrease from the previous month and a 5 percent increase compared to July. So far this year, sales have totaled 1 million electric vehicles, which is 21 percent below the same period last year. The U.S. market is cited as the main driver of this trend, where the share of electric vehicles in new car sales has dropped significantly compared to the previous year.

For the rest of the world, the table shows 0.29 million electric vehicles sold in August. This represented a 97 percent increase from the previous month and no change compared to July. From January to August, 2 million vehicles were sold there, also 97 percent more than in the corresponding period last year.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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