Global EV Sales Hit 27% Share in July
Global plugin vehicle registrations reached 1.8 million in July, with a 27% market share. Battery electric vehicles grew 16% year-over-year, while plug-in hybrids declined 11%.
Global plugin vehicle registrations totaled roughly 1.8 million units in July, a 7% increase year-over-year. The market share for all electric vehicles reached 27% for the month, according to data from CleanTechnica.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) saw strong growth of 16% compared to July of the previous year. In contrast, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) declined by 11%. This divergence means BEVs accounted for 71% of all plugin sales in July, representing about 1.3 million units.
Market Dynamics and Regional Variations
When excluding the Chinese and U.S. markets, global EV registrations jumped 50% year-over-year in July. BEV registrations outside those two major markets surged by 61%.
Year-to-date, the overall plugin vehicle growth remains modest at 4%. This slow growth is attributed entirely to the ongoing decline in PHEV sales. BEVs, however, are showing a healthier 12% growth rate for the year so far. The cumulative 2026 EV share stands at 24%, with BEVs at 17% and PHEVs at 7%.
For context, the EV share was just 6% five years ago and approximately 1% a decade ago.
Top Selling Models in July
The Tesla Model Y remained the world's best-selling EV in July, despite its deliveries falling 9% year-over-year. The Tesla Model 3, however, saw a sharp 44% drop in deliveries to 19,000 units, placing it 11th overall.
The BYD Song secured second place, aided by an export push and its new-generation Ultra body. A group of smaller, affordable EVs filled positions three through seven, indicating a shift toward mass-market adoption.
| Rank | Model | Manufacturer | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Model Y | Tesla | Deliveries down 9% YoY. |
| 2 | Song | BYD | Second place; export push. |
| 3 | Xingyuan | Geely | Small EV. |
| 4 | Yuan Up | BYD | Small EV. |
| 5 | Seagull | BYD | Small EV; 7,265 registrations. |
| 6 | A10 | Leapmotor | Rapid rise; 3rd in China. |
| 7 | Dolphin | BYD | 26,000 registrations; strong in Brazil. |
| 8 | SU7 | Xiaomi | 21,000 units. |
| 9 | Tai 7 | Fang Cheng Bao (BYD) | ~21,000 registrations. |
| 11 | Model 3 | Tesla | 19,000 units; down 44% YoY. |
| 19 | BZ4X | Toyota | Sole legacy OEM in top 20. |
| 20 | B10 | Leapmotor | Debuted on the table. |
The Leapmotor A10, known as the B03X in export markets, is becoming a sales phenomenon. The BYD Dolphin recorded 26,000 registrations, its best result since last September, with significant volumes from South Korea and Brazil. The BYD Seagull, marketed as the Dolphin Mini in some regions, registered 7,265 units in July alone.
Other Notable Performances
Leapmotor had three models in the top 20, trailing only BYD's seven. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV set a record with 12,236 registrations, just shy of a top 20 spot. The race for 20th position was extremely tight, with less than 400 units separating the Leapmotor B10 from the Volkswagen ID.4 in 24th place.
Outside the top 20, several models posted record results. The Chery Jaecoo 5 registered 11,969 units. The GAC Aion i60 compact crossover hit 11,206 registrations. Zeekr models also saw record performances, with significant contributions from export markets like Australia and Europe.
Year-to-date, the Tesla Model Y holds a commanding lead, selling twice as many units as the second-place BYD Song. The real competition is for the third podium position, currently held by the Geely Xingyuan with a 15,000-unit lead over the Tesla Model 3.
