Sales of electric vehicles in Europe just hit a record in September, as global market growth shifts towards Europe and beyond its largest established markets.
Nearly 600,000 electric vehicles were sold in Europe in September, up 39% year-on-year, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Globally, sales reached 2.15 million, up 17% from August but down 2% from September 2025.
| Region | September 26, millions | Yeah | Mom | Since the beginning of the year, in millions | Since the beginning of year 26 versus since the beginning of year 25 |
| China | 1.11 | -18% | 7% | 8.1 | -13% |
| Europe | 0.60 | 39% | 62% | 3.9 | 30% |
| North America | 0.13 | -44% | -8% | 1.2 | -24% |
| Row | 0.31 | 81% | 6% | 2.3 | 93% |
| Global | 2.15 | -2% | 17% | 15.5 | 3% |
This brings global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) to 15.5 million through September, up 3% from the same period last year. But where these electric vehicles are sold tells a much more interesting story.
Europe hits new record for electric vehicle sales
The European total for September beat its previous record, set in June, by 10%. BEVs did the heavy lifting: Their sales jumped 50% year-over-year, compared to 16% growth for PHEVs.
The UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Finland all recorded their highest monthly EV sales on record. France’s sales increased 78% year-on-year to nearly 80,000 units, while Germany’s sales increased 61% to 117,000 units.
UK sales were more than 3.5 times the August total, although there is one important point to take into account: the new September number plates provide a seasonal boost to the entire UK car market. The share of electric vehicle sales in the UK remained roughly stable compared to August, at around 40%.
Across Europe, electric vehicle sales rose 62% month-over-month, as buyers returned after the summer slowdown. Through September, the region sold 3.9 million electric vehicles, an increase of 30% year-on-year.
The 44% drop in North America requires some context
North America has moved in the opposite direction. Electric vehicle sales in September fell 44% year over year to around 130,000 – the region’s largest percentage decline in 2026. Sales also fell 8% from August.
But this figure comes with a big caveat. September 2025 was the last month before the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit for electric vehicles expired, so buyers rushed to purchase electric vehicles before the deadline. This month of September is measured against this month of huge sales.
However, this does not erase the region’s struggles. Electric vehicle sales in North America totaled 1.2 million through September, down 24% from a year earlier. But Benchmark cautions against reading September’s percentage as another sudden collapse in demand.
“Starting in the fourth quarter, the comparison will be made with the months immediately after the credit was phased out, when U.S. electric vehicle sales collapsed. So the year-over-year situation is expected to improve markedly,” said Charles Lester, Benchmark’s chief data officer.
In other words, smaller declines later this year won’t necessarily mean a recovery in sales — the comparison will just be less stark.
Chinese automakers look overseas
China remains by far the largest electric vehicle market, with 1.11 million vehicles sold in September. This represents an increase of 7% compared to August, but a decrease of 18% year-on-year, a larger drop than the 11% drop recorded in August.
Through September, electric vehicle sales in China totaled 8.1 million, down 13%. PHEVs largely explain this weakness: their sales have fallen by 25% this year, compared to a drop of 6% for BEVs.
Chinese sales of gasoline cars are down 43% year-on-year, to 534,000 units in September 2026, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The decline in electric vehicle sales therefore does not mean that drivers are buying gasoline cars.
Chinese automakers kept production steady and sent more vehicles overseas. China’s exports of passenger cars in the new energy vehicle category reached a monthly record of 558,000 in September.
But two policy changes could make this export strategy more difficult next year. An EU-China deal, still subject to member state approval, would cap imports of Chinese-made BEVs and PHEVs at 350,000 in 2027. The four-year deal would increase the cap by 6% per year after its first year.
China will also reduce its export VAT reduction for new energy vehicles from 13% to 9% on April 1, 2027, reducing the tax refund available to exporters.
The rest of the world continues to grow
Outside of China, Europe and North America, electric vehicle sales in September increased 81% year-on-year to around 310,000 units.
These markets have purchased 2.3 million electric vehicles so far this year, an increase of 93%. That’s nearly twice the North American total – and a source of substantial growth.
Learn more: Electric vehicle sales are booming in Europe – and falling in North America
If you’ve ever considered going solar, make it easier on yourself by finding a trusted and reliable solar installer near you who offers competitive pricing by consulting EnergyWise. It has hundreds of pre-screened solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and savings of 20-30% compared to a stand-alone solution. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t receive any sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll have access to impartial energy advisors to help you every step of the way. Start here.
FTC: We use automatic, revenue-generating affiliate links. More.
Gn bussni
