Europe’s electric car sales jump 49% as global EV sales grow

Global EV sales climbed 8% in October, with Europe’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales jumping 49% and North America posting its first year-over-year increase in 2026. But that North American rebound comes with a big catch.

Drivers bought 2.09 million EVs worldwide last month, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. That’s down 3% from September, but it brings sales for the first 10 months of 2026 to 17.5 million – up 5% from the same period last year.

Region

Oct-26, million

y-o-y

m-o-m

YTD, millions

YTD-26 vs YTD-25

China

1.14

-12%

5%

9.1

-11%

Europe

0.51

36%

-17%

4.5

31%

North America

0.13

24%

0%

1.3

-21%

RoW

0.30

85%

-2%

2.6

93%

Global

2.09

8%

-3%

17.5

5%

Benchmark’s figures include both BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in the passenger-car and light-duty vehicle markets.

Europe’s growth keeps building

Europe sold 510,000 EVs in October, up 36% year over year. Fully electric cars did most of the work: BEV sales rose 49%, while plug-in hybrids grew 7%.

That puts October’s growth ahead of Europe’s 31% increase for the year so far. The region has now sold 4.5 million EVs in 2026.

Sales fell 17% from September’s record, but September got a boost from the UK’s twice-yearly registration plate change. The year-over-year figures give a clearer view of how quickly the market is growing.

Germany’s EV share topped 45% of new car sales, its highest level since December 2022. That earlier peak came as buyers rushed to get cars before subsidy cuts took effect. Fully electric car sales in Germany rose almost 80% from a year earlier to more than 95,000.

UK EV sales increased 30%. That’s particularly notable because the Electric Car Grant was already available in October 2025, although fewer models qualified then. So this growth comes against a market that was already getting government support.

And in Portugal, EVs accounted for 55% of new car sales in October, following a sharp rise in their market share over the past few months.

North America’s rebound needs context

North American EV sales rose 24% year over year to 130,000 in October, the region’s first annual increase of 2026. Sales were flat from September, while the year-to-date decline narrowed to 21%, from 24% a month earlier. The region has sold 1.3 million EVs so far this year.

US EV sales reached around 110,000 units in October.

But here’s the catch: October 2025 was the first month after the federal EV tax credit expired. The credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, and sales dropped sharply afterward.

October 2026 is therefore being compared with a month when sales plummeted. A positive annual number doesn’t mean US demand has returned to its pre-expiration level.

“October is the first month compared against a period without the US federal tax credit, and the US market has stabilized at a lower level rather than recovered,” said Charles Lester, Benchmark’s data manager.

The flat month-over-month figure helps tell that story: Sales have steadied, but the market is operating from a lower base.

China sold 1.14 million EVs in October, up 5% from September but down 12% year over year. That annual decline was smaller than September’s 18% drop.

Sales through October reached 9.1 million, down 11%, compared with a 13% year-to-date decline at the end of September.

Even with fewer EVs being sold, their share of China’s new car market reached a fresh high. That’s because the wider passenger car market is shrinking faster.

Chinese automakers are continuing to produce vehicles and look overseas for buyers. Passenger car exports of new energy vehicles – China’s category covering BEVs and PHEVs – reached nearly 600,000 in October. That’s another monthly record, up from 558,000 in September.

Those exports face more pressure ahead. The EU has agreed to cap imports of Chinese-built hybrids, and China will reduce its EV export VAT rebate from 13% to 9% starting April 1, 2027.

Other markets grow fast, with some caveats

Outside China, Europe, and North America, EV sales rose 85% year over year to 300,000 in October. Those markets have bought 2.6 million EVs so far in 2026, up 93%.

Australia’s sales jumped more than 200% in October, and EVs have gained market share sharply this year. But that hasn’t translated into healthy dealer profits, according to Benchmark. More brands, many of them Chinese, are competing for buyers, spreading sales across more companies and squeezing dealer margins.

Brazil’s growth has also been huge, although Benchmark cautions that some of its drivers are temporary. Importers brought vehicles in ahead of phased tariff increases, a fuel crisis pushed more buyers toward EVs, and BYD increased production at its Brazilian factory.

As the tariff increases take full effect and fuel price pressure eases, Benchmark expects those boosts to fade. BYD’s local production, which will also supply Argentina and Mexico, is set to become the main remaining support for that growth.