Europe's electric car sales jump 49% as global EV sales grow

Global electric-vehicle sales reached 2.09 million in October, up 8% from a year earlier but down 3% from September. Sales for the first ten months of 2026 totaled 17.5 million, 5% above the same period in 2025. Europe was the clearest growth engine: it sold 510,000 EVs, up 36% year over year, including a 49% jump in fully electric cars and 7% growth in plug-in hybrids. The year-over-year rise is more revealing than the monthly decline, which followed a UK registration-plate change that boosted September sales. Germany’s electric-car sales rose almost 80%, and EVs made up 55% of new-car sales in Portugal.

North America recorded its first year-over-year increase of 2026, with October sales up 24% to 130,000, but the comparison is against October 2025, when US sales fell after the federal tax credit expired. Sales have stabilized at a lower level, and the region remains down 21% year to date. China’s October sales fell 12% year over year, though EVs gained market share as the broader car market contracted; record exports may face pressure from EU import limits and a coming reduction in China’s export rebate. Other markets grew 85%, led by Australia and Brazil, but dealer-margin pressure and temporary incentives, fuel disruption, and tariff timing make some of that growth less durable.