In a significant move for the electric vehicle sector, global EV sales increased by 8% this October, fueled by a notable rise in Europe and a surprising uptick in North America. However, not all regions experienced the same momentum, with some still facing challenges.
Data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence indicates that 2.09 million EVs were sold globally in October. This reflects a 3% decrease from September, yet the total sales for the first ten months of 2026 reached 17.5 million, marking a 5% growth compared to the previous 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 analysis covers both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) within the passenger-car and light-duty vehicle segments.
Europe’s Accelerating Sales
Europe recorded sales of 510,000 EVs in October, showing a 36% increase from the previous year. This growth is largely driven by a 49% rise in BEV sales, complemented by a 7% increase in plug-in hybrids. Despite a 17% drop from September, which was bolstered by the UK’s registration plate changes, the annual trends highlight a robust market expansion.
Germany reached a new milestone with EVs comprising over 45% of new car sales, a level not seen since December 2022. In the UK, a 30% boost in EV sales underscores continued growth, even with the Electric Car Grant in place since October 2025. Meanwhile, Portugal saw EVs account for 55% of new car sales in October, reflecting substantial market share gains.
Contextualizing North America’s Growth
North America’s EV sales climbed 24% year-over-year to 130,000 units in October, marking its first annual growth in 2026. However, this increase is juxtaposed against a 21% year-to-date decline. In the U.S., sales hovered around 110,000 units, but this should be viewed in light of last year’s expired federal EV tax credit.
“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,” remarked Charles Lester, Benchmark’s data manager. The flat month-over-month sales suggest a stable yet reduced market base.
China’s Market Dynamics
China’s October EV sales hit 1.14 million, up 5% from September but down 12% from the previous year. Despite lower sales, EVs captured a larger share of the shrinking passenger car market. New energy vehicle exports, including BEVs and PHEVs, reached nearly 600,000, setting a new monthly record but facing future constraints from EU import caps and reduced export VAT rebates.
Rapid Growth in Other Regions
Outside the major markets, EV sales surged 85% year-over-year to 300,000 in October, tallying 2.6 million for 2026. Australia witnessed a more than 200% increase in sales, although dealer profits remain constrained by heightened competition. Brazil’s impressive growth is partly driven by tariff anticipation and a fuel crisis, with BYD’s expanded local production expected to sustain momentum.
Read more: Europe’s EV sales soar as North America drops 44% – here’s the catch
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Original Story at electrek.co