Volvo EX30. Photo: Volvo
Global EV sales barely moved the needle in August, but that number hides two dramatically different markets: Europe surged 36% from a year ago, while North America plunged 33%.
Around 1.83 million EVs were sold worldwide in August, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. That’s up just 2% year over year and down 1% from July. Global sales reached 13.4 million through the first eight months of 2026 – 4% higher than during the same period last year.
RegionAug-26, milliony-o-ym-o-mYTD, millionsYTD-26 vs YTD-25China1.03-11%4%6.9-12%Europe0.3836%-15%3.329%North America0.14-33%5%1.0-21%RoW0.2997%0%2.097%Global1.832%-1%13.44%
“Global EV sales growth cooled sharply in August, rising just 2% year-on-year to 1.83 million units, as a deepening contraction in North America offset continued double-digit growth in Europe and an improving picture in China,” said Benchmark data manager Charles Lester.
Europe carries global EV growth
Europe was easily the strongest of the three major EV markets in August. Sales climbed 36% year over year to around 380,000 vehicles, although they fell 15% from July during the region’s usual summer slowdown.
European EV sales reached 3.3 million from January through August, up 29% year over year.
France, Germany, and the UK – which together account for more than half of European EV sales – continued to benefit from purchase incentives, more affordable models, and higher fuel prices in some markets. France achieved a record 41% EV market share in August.
Spain’s new Auto+ incentive program also completed its first full month. The €400 million ($465 million) program offers a base subsidy of up to €4,500 ($5,190) for a new electric passenger car, with eligibility retroactive to January 1. This is expected to have a positive impact on EV sales in the country going forward.
North American EV sales fall 33%
North America moved in the opposite direction. Around 140,000 EVs were sold in August, down 33% year over year. Sales did rise 5% from July, but the region remains down 21% for the year, at around 1 million EVs.
The steep annual drop is partly the result of an unusually tough comparison. US EV buyers rushed to buy in August and September 2025 before the federal EV tax credit disappeared on September 30 of last year.
Several automakers reported steep year-over-year declines in EV sales last month, while hybrids picked up some of the lost market share. September’s comparison is also likely to look rough because it will be measured against the final and largest month of last year’s tax-credit rush.
It’s also worth noting that the lack of supply is impacting US EV sales as much as the lack of demand, thanks to the end of the tax credits. Automakers have responded to the hostile policy environment by canceling new EV models, and imported models are also in limited supply.
Canada used 15,603 of its 24,500 (around 64%) of its lower-tariff permits for Chinese-built EVs by August 31. The unused permits rolled over, bringing the new six-month quota to more than 33,000 through the end of February 2027. Benchmark says most of the first-round permits went to a small number of automakers already operating in Canada, while several major Chinese EV brands have yet to launch there.
China’s BEV sales are better than the headline suggests
Benchmark recorded 1.03 million EV sales in China in August, up 4% from July but down 11% year over year. Sales reached 6.9 million through August, a 12% annual decline.
But a closer look at China’s retail sales data shows that pure BEV sales actually edged up 0.8% year over year.
China’s broader new energy vehicle category fell 10.1% because plug-in hybrid sales dropped 29.6% and extended-range EV sales fell 22.2%. Overall, passenger vehicle sales were down 23.6%, while fossil-powered vehicles and conventional hybrids sank 40%.
As a result, new energy vehicles expanded their share of China’s passenger car market to 65.2%, up from 55.2% a year earlier. So while the market is selling fewer plug-in vehicles overall, the transition away from combustion engines is still accelerating.
Chinese automakers are also leaning heavily on exports. New energy vehicle exports jumped over 150% year over year to a record of around 518,000 units in August, bringing exports for the first eight months of 2026 above 3.3 million.
Rest of World sales nearly double
Markets outside the three largest regions continued to grow rapidly. EV sales reached around 290,000 in August, flat from July but up 97% year over year.
Those markets also recorded 2 million EV sales through August – another 97% increase from the same period in 2025.
That growth, along with Europe’s strong performance, was enough to keep global EV sales in positive territory.
Read more: Global EV sales rose in July – except in North America
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