Global EV sales record 21% growth in July: China, North America top the list

July recorded a year-on-year growth of 21% in Global electric vehicle sales. The growth has been the slowest since January, owing to the sluggish sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles in China, Reuters reported, citing market research firm Rho Motion.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

As the world’s largest automobile market, China’s share in global EV sales exceeds 50%, encompassing both plug-in hybrid and battery-powered electric vehicles. 

The country’s overall rise in car sales slowed in July, with the largest EV manufacturer in the world, BYD, reporting its third consecutive month of declining registrations

However, the comparatively mild drop in worldwide EV sales indicates that other markets are picking up some of the slack. European sales, for example, are gaining from incentives meant to accelerate decarbonization.

BY THE NUMBERS

According to Reuters, Rho Motion data showed sales of plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles increased to 1.6 million worldwide in July.

According to Charles Lester, data manager at Rho Motion, China's EV sales growth, which averaged 36% per month in the first half, slowed to 12% in July as the once-booming sector was slowed by a halt in several 2025 government subsidy programs for EV and plug-in hybrid purchases.

China’s EV sales growth has dropped to 12% in July from its earlier average of 36% in a month. As per the data manager of Rho Motion, Charles Lester, the market was affected by the discontinuation of some of the government subsidy schemes for EV and plug-in hybrid, Reuters reported. 

China saw sales of more than a million cars. North America saw a 10% increase in sales to over 170,000 units, while Europe saw a 48% increase to about 390,000. In the rest of the world, sales of cars increased by 55% to over 140,000.