The key facts

  • Global electric vehicle sales rose 8% year-on-year in October to 2.09 million units.
  • Europe saw a 36% increase and North America a 24% rise, marking the first annual growth in the latter this year.
  • China's domestic market fell 12% to 1.14 million units, but exports hit a record of nearly 600,000 units.

Global electric vehicle sales growth in October

In October, global electric vehicle sales increased by 8% compared to the same period last year, reaching 2.09 million units, according to Anadolu Agency citing data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. This growth was driven by a sharp rise in demand in Europe and the first annual increase in North America in a year, although monthly figures fell by 3% compared to the record-breaking September.

Regional market characteristics

In Europe, electric vehicle deliveries rose by 36% year-on-year to 510,000 units, with the share of fully electric models increasing by 49%. Germany recorded the highest level of electric vehicle penetration since December 2022, when their share exceeded 45% of the new car market, while sales in the United Kingdom grew by 30%. In North America, sales surged by 24% to 130,000 units, marking the first annual growth in the region this year; experts attribute this to a lower comparison base following the expiration of federal tax incentives in the United States at the end of 2025.

Situation in China and other regions

Meanwhile, China's domestic electric vehicle market contracted by 12% year-on-year to 1.14 million units amid weak domestic demand. Despite this, Chinese automakers set a monthly record for exporting new energy vehicles, shipping nearly 600,000 units abroad. Sales in the rest of the world, including markets such as Australia and Brazil, surged by 85% year-on-year, reaching 300,000 units.