Business · Companies · 59 mins ago
Global EV sales rose 8% in October as Europe’s electric car sales surged
Global EV sales reached 2.09 million in October, up 8% from a year earlier but down 3% from September.
Europe sold 510,000 EVs, with sales of fully electric cars rising 49% year over year.
Germany’s fully electric car sales climbed almost 80%, and EVs made up 55% of new car sales in Portugal.
North American sales rose 24%, marking the region’s first year-over-year increase in 2026, but they were flat from September.
The comparison is misleading because the US federal tax credit had ended by October 2025, when sales fell sharply, leaving today’s market at a lower level.
China’s sales fell 12% from a year earlier, though its EV share of new car sales reached a new high as the wider car market shrank faster.
Worldwide sales reached 17.5 million in the first 10 months, up 5% from the same period last year.
Global electric vehicle sales rose 8% year over year to 2.09 million in October, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
Europe sold 510,000 EVs, up 36% year over year, while battery electric vehicle sales in the region rose 49%.
North American EV sales increased 24% year over year to 130,000, the region’s first annual gain of 2026.
China sold 1.14 million EVs, down 12% from October 2025.
Worldwide sales for the first 10 months of 2026 reached 17.5 million, up 5% from the same period last year.
- Who
- EV buyers worldwide; Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reported the sales figures.
- What
- Global EV sales rose 8% year over year in October to 2.09 million. Europe’s BEV sales climbed 49%.
- When
- October 2026.
- Where
- Worldwide, including Europe, North America and China.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The US federal EV tax credit had expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, and sales dropped sharply afterward.
Europe’s EV sales reached a record, with the UK’s registration plate change boosting figures.
Global EV sales rose 8% year over year to 2.09 million.
- Global EV sales
- 2.09 million in October; up 8% year over year
- Europe EV sales
- 510,000 in October; up 36% year over year
- Europe BEV sales
- Up 49% year over year
- North America EV sales
- 130,000 in October; up 24% year over year
- China EV sales
- 1.14 million in October; down 12% year over year
- 2026 year-to-date global sales
- 17.5 million through October; up 5%
What people are saying
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