Global electric vehicle (EV) sales reached 2.15 million units in September 2026, increasing 17% from August but falling 2% compared with September 2025. Year-to-date sales totalled 15.5 million units, up 3% annually. Europe recorded its strongest month on record, while China’s domestic market weakened and North American sales dropped sharply amid comparisons with the period before US federal EV tax credits expired.
Key Overview
- Global EV sales reached 2.15 million units in September.
- Monthly sales increased 17%, while annual sales declined 2%.
- Year-to-date sales reached 15.5 million units, up 3% year on year.
- Europe recorded nearly 600,000 sales, its strongest month on record.
- China’s September sales fell 18% year on year to 1.11 million.
- North American sales declined 44% year on year.
Global EV Sales End Six-Month Growth Streak
Global electric vehicle sales rebounded in September, reaching 2.15 million units, but the increase from August did not prevent an annual decline. The market recorded a 17% month-on-month increase, while sales were 2% lower than in September 2025.
The decline ended six consecutive months of year-on-year growth. Despite this setback, cumulative global sales reached 15.5 million units during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 3% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The latest figures show that the global EV market is experiencing different conditions across major regions. Europe’s strong performance was not enough to offset declines in China and North America, highlighting how regional demand can influence the worldwide market.
Europe Records Its Strongest Month for EV Sales
Europe was the standout performer in September, with close to 600,000 units sold, surpassing the previous monthly record set in June by 10%.
European EV sales increased 39% year on year and 62% month on month. The region’s year-to-date sales reached 3.9 million units, up 30% compared with the same period in 2025.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) led the expansion, with sales increasing 50% year on year. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales rose 16%.
The growth extended across several European markets. The UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Finland all recorded their highest-ever monthly EV sales. France’s sales increased 78% year on year to almost 80,000 units, while Germany recorded a 61% increase to 117,000.
These results demonstrate that the global annual decline did not reflect weaker demand in every market. Europe’s record performance helped support overall sales despite contractions elsewhere.
China Faces Weaker Domestic Demand as Exports Rise
China remained the largest EV market, recording 1.11 million sales in September. However, sales fell 18% year on year, compared with an 11% decline in August. The market was down 13% year to date.
The weakness was particularly pronounced among plug-in hybrids, whose sales declined 25% year to date. Battery electric vehicle sales performed relatively better, recording a 6% year-to-date decline.
With domestic demand subdued, Chinese manufacturers continued directing vehicles towards overseas markets. Passenger car new energy vehicle exports reached a record 558,000 units in September.
However, potential trade restrictions could affect this strategy. The reporting on the global EV sales decline also highlights proposed limits on Chinese-built hybrid vehicle imports into the European Union, alongside a planned reduction in China’s export VAT rebate for new energy vehicles from 13% to 9% from April 2027.
These developments could influence manufacturers’ export costs and access to international markets.
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North American Sales Drop 44%
North America recorded the sharpest annual decline among the major markets covered by the September data. Sales fell 44% year on year and 8% month on month, leaving year-to-date sales at 1.2 million units, down 24% compared with the same period in 2025.
The decline was partly influenced by an unusually strong comparison period. In September 2025, US buyers rushed to purchase EVs before federal tax credits expired at the end of the month.
Consequently, September 2026 sales were measured against a period of elevated demand. The comparison does not, on its own, establish that the market experienced an equivalent underlying deterioration in consumer interest.
The outlook for annual comparisons could change from the fourth quarter, when the reference period will include months following the tax credit’s expiration. However, a smaller year-on-year decline would not automatically mean that sales had returned to growth.
Outlook
September’s results reveal a divided global EV market. Europe recorded a new monthly sales record, while weaker domestic demand in China and a sharp decline in North America pulled global sales below the previous year’s level.
Although the annual decline marks a break in the recent growth streak, year-to-date sales remained 3% higher than in 2025. Future results will help establish whether the September decline was temporary or part of a longer slowdown.
For manufacturers, battery suppliers and charging businesses, regional sales trends will remain important indicators of demand. Policy changes, consumer incentives, export conditions and the availability of competitive models could all influence the market’s next phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many EVs were sold globally in September 2026?
Global EV sales reached approximately 2.15 million units.
2. Why did global EV sales decline year on year?
Record sales in Europe were not enough to offset weaker domestic demand in China and the sharp decline in North America.
3. Which region recorded the strongest performance?
Europe recorded its strongest month on record, with nearly 600,000 EVs sold in September.
4. Are global EV sales declining overall in 2026?
No. Despite September’s annual decline, global year-to-date sales reached 15.5 million units, up 3% compared with the first nine months of 2025.
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