Global EV Sales in September 2026 by Region

Global electric vehicle sales reached 2.15 million units in September 2026, declining 2% from a year earlier despite a 17% monthly increase. Europe recorded its strongest month on record, while North America and China reported lower sales, highlighting significant differences in regional EV market performance.

Global EV Sales Reach 15.5 Million in 2026

According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, worldwide sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) totaled 15.5 million units between January and September 2026, representing annual growth of 3%.

September sales increased from August as several markets recovered from seasonal slowdowns. However, the global total remained below September 2025 levels.

The regional figures show that overall market growth increasingly depends on Europe and emerging EV markets, rather than expansion in China and North America.

These figures demonstrate that global EV adoption is continuing to expand in some regions even as established markets experience weaker demand.

Europe Sets a New Monthly EV Sales Record

Europe emerged as the strongest major growth market in September, recording approximately 600,000 EV sales.

That represented a 39% increase from September 2025 and a 62% rise compared with August 2026.

The result also exceeded Europe's previous monthly record, established in June, by approximately 10%.

Battery electric vehicles contributed most of the increase, with BEV sales rising 50% year over year. Plug-in hybrid sales grew at a slower rate of 16%.

Several countries reported their highest monthly electric vehicle volumes, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal and Finland.

France recorded nearly 80,000 EV sales, an annual increase of 78%, while Germany reached approximately 117,000 units, up 61%.

The United Kingdom experienced a particularly large monthly increase, with sales exceeding August levels by more than 3.5 times.

However, September traditionally benefits from the introduction of new vehicle registration plates in Britain. EVs maintained a market share of approximately 40%, broadly unchanged from August.

Across the first nine months of 2026, European EV sales reached 3.9 million units, representing 30% annual growth.

North American Sales Face a Difficult Comparison

North America recorded approximately 130,000 electric vehicle sales in September, a decline of 44% compared with the same month last year.

Sales also decreased 8% from August, making September the region's weakest annual percentage performance of 2026.

However, the comparison reflects an unusually strong September 2025, when American buyers accelerated EV purchases before the federal $7,500 purchase tax credit expired.

That deadline temporarily increased demand, creating a high reference point for this year's results.

The broader slowdown remains significant. North American EV sales totaled 1.2 million units through September, down 24% from the corresponding period in 2025.

Charles Lester, a data manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, expects annual comparisons to become less negative during the fourth quarter.

That is because late-2025 sales had already weakened following the removal of the federal incentive.

Improving percentage comparisons later in 2026 would therefore not necessarily indicate a substantial recovery in underlying demand.

China's EV Market Contracts as Exports Increase

China remained the world's largest electric vehicle market, recording 1.11 million sales in September 2026.

Although sales increased 7% from August, they declined 18% year over year.

For the first nine months, Chinese EV sales totaled 8.1 million units, representing a 13% decrease.

Plug-in hybrids experienced the sharper decline, with sales falling 25% year to date, compared with a 6% reduction for battery electric vehicles.

Conventional gasoline vehicle sales also weakened. According to the China Passenger Car Association, September gasoline passenger car sales fell 43% annually to approximately 534,000 units.

Chinese manufacturers have increasingly relied on overseas markets to absorb production.

Exports of new energy passenger vehicles reached a record 558,000 units in September.

However, proposed European import restrictions and changes to China's export tax incentives could affect future shipments.

A pending EU–China arrangement would limit Chinese-built BEV and PHEV imports to 350,000 units in 2027, with the annual allowance increasing 6% in subsequent years.

China also plans to reduce its new energy vehicle export VAT rebate from 13% to 9% on April 1, 2027.

Emerging Markets Support Global EV Growth

Markets outside China, Europe and North America recorded approximately 310,000 EV sales in September, an annual increase of 81%.

This group also achieved 6% monthly growth.

During the first nine months of 2026, sales across these markets reached 2.3 million vehicles, up 93% from the previous year.

The figures suggest that electric vehicle adoption is expanding beyond the industry's largest established markets.

Although China continues to account for the greatest number of sales, Europe's record performance and rapid growth elsewhere are becoming increasingly important to the global market.

The September results illustrate a geographically uneven transition, with regional policy, market conditions and purchasing patterns influencing EV demand differently.

FAQ

How many electric vehicles were sold globally in September 2026?

Worldwide EV sales reached approximately 2.15 million units in September 2026, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. This represented a 2% annual decline but a 17% increase from August.

Why did European EV sales increase in September 2026?

European EV sales rose due to strong growth in battery electric vehicles and increased registrations across several major markets. The region recorded approximately 600,000 sales, up 39% annually, with seasonal registration patterns also contributing to September demand.

Why did North American EV sales fall by 44%?

North American EV sales were compared against September 2025, when purchases increased ahead of the expiration of the U.S. federal EV tax credit. The region recorded approximately 130,000 sales in September 2026, while year-to-date volume declined 24%.

How many EVs did China sell in September 2026?

China sold approximately 1.11 million electric vehicles in September 2026, down 18% year over year. Despite the decline, China remained the world's largest EV market.

Are electric vehicle sales growing outside major markets?

Yes. EV sales outside China, Europe and North America increased 81% year over year in September 2026, reaching approximately 310,000 vehicles. Sales across these markets grew 93% during the first nine months of the year.

How many EVs were sold worldwide in the first nine months of 2026?

Global BEV and PHEV sales totaled approximately 15.5 million vehicles from January through September 2026. That represented a 3% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

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