Global EV Sales Reach 2.09 Million Units in October 2026

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales reached 2.09 million units in October 2026, bringing total year-to-date sales to 17.5 million, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. October sales increased 8% year-over-year but declined 3% from September’s 2.15 million units.

Combined battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales across passenger cars and light-duty vehicles increased 5% during the first 10 months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Data Manager Charles Lester said October marked an important return to annual growth for North America, while Europe continued accelerating. However, China’s domestic market remained under pressure, with manufacturers increasingly relying on exports.

Europe

Europe recorded 510,000 EV sales in October, an increase of 36% year-over-year but a 17% decline from September’s record. The monthly growth rate exceeded the region’s 31% year-to-date increase, indicating continued momentum.

BEVs led the expansion, with sales climbing 49% year-over-year, while PHEV sales increased 7%.

Germany recorded its highest EV market penetration since December 2022, with electric vehicles accounting for more than 45% of new-car sales. German BEV sales nearly doubled, increasing almost 80% year-over-year to more than 95,000 units.

The United Kingdom recorded 30% year-over-year EV sales growth, despite comparing against October 2025, when its Electric Car Grant was already available. However, fewer vehicle models qualified for the program at that time.

Portugal also continued its rapid electrification, with EVs reaching 55% of new-car sales in October. Its adoption rate now places it among Europe’s most electrified automotive markets.

North America

North American EV sales increased 24% year-over-year in October, marking the region’s first annual increase of 2026. Sales remained flat month-over-month at approximately 130,000 units, while the year-to-date decline narrowed to 21%, compared with 24% at the end of September.

The United States accounted for approximately 110,000 sales. October marked the first comparison against a month in 2025 when the federal EV tax credit was no longer available. The incentive expired at the end of September 2025, triggering a substantial decline in EV purchases.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence cautioned that October’s return to annual growth reflects an easier comparison rather than a meaningful recovery in demand. U.S. EV sales have stabilized following the incentive’s expiration, but at a considerably lower level than before the credit ended.

China

China recorded 1.14 million EV sales in October, increasing 5% month-over-month while declining 12% year-over-year. The annual decline narrowed from 18% in September, bringing the market’s year-to-date decline to 11%.

Despite weaker domestic vehicle demand, EVs continued gaining market share as the broader passenger-car market contracted more sharply. EV penetration reached another record.

Chinese manufacturers continued maintaining production levels and expanding exports to compensate for softer domestic demand. Passenger-car new energy vehicle (NEV) exports approached 600,000 units in October, setting another monthly record and surpassing September’s 558,000 units.

However, manufacturers face additional policy challenges in 2027. These include the European Union’s import restrictions on Chinese-built hybrids and China’s planned reduction in its NEV export VAT rebate from 13% to 9%, effective April 1, 2027.

Rest of the World

EV sales across the Rest of the World increased 85% year-over-year to approximately 300,000 units in October. Year-to-date sales in these markets climbed 93%.

Australia recorded more than 200% year-over-year EV sales growth in October, with market penetration increasing substantially during 2026. However, expanding competition from new automotive brands, particularly Chinese manufacturers, is fragmenting sales and putting pressure on dealership profitability.

Brazil also experienced substantial EV growth, driven by several temporary market conditions. Anticipated increases in import tariffs encouraged manufacturers and importers to bring vehicles into the country ahead of tariff changes. Higher fuel prices also strengthened EV demand, while BYD expanded production at its Brazilian manufacturing facility.

Looking ahead, Brazil’s EV market could experience slower growth as tariff increases are fully implemented and fuel-price pressures ease. Local production by BYD, including vehicles intended for export to Argentina and Mexico, is expected to become a more important driver of the market.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Global EV Market Continues Expanding, New Congress Should Undo Bad Federal Policies

October’s 2.09 million sales demonstrate the continued expansion of the global EV market, despite significant differences in regional performance. Europe remains a major growth engine, North America is beginning to stabilize following the foolish cut of U.S. federal incentives, and China continues leveraging its manufacturing capacity and export strength.

The new U.S. Congress will have an opportunity to undo bad federal policies that slowed U.S. electric vehicle adoption, resetting the country’s approach to transportation electrification to a smarter one. Reinstating the federal EV tax credits, including the $7,500 consumer incentive that expired in September 2025, could help restore an important financial incentive for buyers. The expiration contributed to a challenging market environment, with U.S. EV registrations falling 44% year-over-year in September 2026 and market share dropping to 7.1% of light-vehicle registrations, compared with 12.4% a year earlier.

Congress could also undo the administration’s foolish changes to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards through its “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative, the unwise elimination of penalties for automakers that fail to meet federal fuel economy requirements, the idiotic revocation of the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle tailpipes, and dumb efforts to roll back California’s emissions and climate standards. Undoing these bad policies could restore regulatory certainty, encourage automakers to invest in cleaner vehicle technologies, strengthen domestic EV manufacturing, and support broader consumer adoption of electric transportation.