Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars grew by 8% in October, reaching 2.09 million vehicles. Europe led this increase, with a notable jump in pure electric car sales. Meanwhile, China’s domestic electric car sales continued to decline, but the country boosted its exports.
Europe’s Strong Growth Driven by Battery Electric Vehicles
Europe sold around 510,000 plug-in vehicles in October, marking a 36% rise from the same month last year. This number includes both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Looking closer, BEV sales increased by 49%, while PHEVs grew by 7%. The region’s growing offer of EV models also plays a role, with nearly 300 different electric car models now available in the European Union.
The 49% increase applies only to pure electric cars, indicating that fully electric vehicles are driving Europe’s market expansion more than hybrids. Europe’s market hit a record in September with nearly 600,000 plug-in vehicle sales, then dipped by 17% in October but remained well above last year’s levels.
Spain saw a particularly strong boost in electric vehicle registrations in October. According to national data from AEDIVE and GANVAM, electrified vehicle sales rose 40.2%. This figure covers all electrified vehicles including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and buses, which differs somewhat from the global data that focuses on BEVs and PHEVs.
China’s Market Shrinks at Home but Exports Soar
China continued to have the highest monthly volume of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, with 1.14 million sold in October. However, its domestic sales dropped by 12% compared to last year. To compensate, Chinese manufacturers exported a record nearly 600,000 new energy vehicles (including BEVs and PHEVs) in October.
This export growth reflects a strategy used by companies like BYD, which is expanding its shipping capacity. Reports suggest BYD plans to add ten new cargo ships to its current fleet to support higher overseas deliveries.
North America and Other Markets Show Mixed Trends
Sales in North America grew by 24% to approximately 130,000 units in October. While this was the first yearly increase in 2026, it came after a sharp drop when U.S. federal EV tax credits ended in 2025. Market analysts say the U.S. market has stabilized at a lower level, so the recent gain does not yet indicate a full recovery.
Elsewhere worldwide, electric and plug-in hybrid sales surged by 85% in October, largely thanks to exports from Chinese manufacturers. For the year so far, global sales have reached 17.5 million vehicles, 5% higher than the same period in 2025.
Overall, Europe’s growing electric car market is helping offset a slowdown in China’s home sales, while Chinese brands increase their presence abroad. The global electric vehicle market continues to evolve with shifting regional trends.
Source: motor.es
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