EV Sales Are Surging Globally While the U.S. Market Declines | Carscoops

      While electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales decreased in North America, strong performance is anticipated in China and Europe for the remainder of the year.

      

      17 hours ago

      

      by Brad Anderson

      

      

      Approximately 1.9 million plug-in vehicles were sold worldwide in October, with 1.3 million of these being fully electric vehicles delivered during the month.

      Sales of EVs in Europe rose by 36 percent, reaching 372,786 units in October.

      Although the removal of the federal EV tax credit in the United States impacted sales figures in October, the global outlook remained positive. New data indicates that worldwide sales of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles increased by 23 percent, driven by heightened demand in Europe and China.

      As reported by Rho Motion, about 1.9 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold globally last month, showing a 23 percent increase compared to October 2024. However, this figure was a bit lower than the 2.1 million plug-in passenger cars and light-duty vehicles sold in September.

      Rho Motion's data also shows that China remains at the forefront with 1.3 million EVs and PHEVs sold last month, marking a 6 percent increase from the same month last year.

      EV SALES 2005 YTD (JAN-OCT) VS 2024 YTD

      Global: 16.5 million, +23%

      China: 10.3 million, +22%

      Europe: 3.4 million, +32%

      North America: 1.6 million, +4%

      Rest of World: 1.3 million, +48%

      In Europe, October deliveries rose by 36 percent from last year to 372,786 units, with 32 percent growth in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and an impressive 47 percent increase in PHEVs. While this total was down from the 427,000 vehicles registered in September, the year-to-date EV growth across Europe remains at 32 percent.

      Germany has seen a 45 percent increase in EV sales year-to-date, while the UK is up by 31 percent. Conversely, France has experienced a slight decline of 2 percent. Spain has more than doubled its figures, and Italy matched Germany's rate with a 45 percent year-to-date increase.

      Sales of EVs and PHEVs in other global regions rose by 37 percent to 141,368 units, presenting a stark contrast to North America.

      What Happened in North America?

      Following the elimination of the EV tax credit of up to $7,500 for newly purchased and leased vehicles during the Trump administration, sales in North America plummeted by 41 percent to 100,370 units. This decline comes after record sales in August and September, as buyers rushed to take advantage of incentives before the cutoff on September 30, 2025.

      Month-on-month comparisons illustrate the depth of the drop. Ford's BEV sales decreased by 60 percent (including models like the Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit), Hyundai’s sales fell by 77 percent (Ioniq models), Kia's dropped 77 percent (EV6, EV9), Honda experienced an 83 percent decline (Prologue), and Subaru nearly vanished, down by 97 percent (Solterra). Each brand also reported year-over-year declines.

      In Canada, Rho Motion indicates that EV sales have remained sluggish throughout 2025, impacted by diminished purchase incentives and the government's decision to pause the 2026 EV mandate in September.

      Market Outlook

      Charles Lester, data manager at Rho Motion, anticipates that the European and Chinese markets will continue to perform well for the rest of the year. He stated, “In Europe, the overall year-to-date growth figure remains relatively high and we’re expecting strong sales towards the end of the year,” as reported by Reuters.

      He also noted that the Chinese market is expected to stay strong through November and December, benefiting from a “pull forward” effect as the country shifts from a full purchase tax exemption on new energy vehicles to a 50 percent exemption.