Global electric vehicle sales reached 1.8 million units in May, Europe leads the way

Global electric vehicle sales reached 1.8 million units in May 2026, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. In total, 7.5 million EVs were sold in the first five months of the year. This is a 3% increase compared to May 2025 and a 7% increase compared to April 2026. This was reported by Electrek, according to UNN.

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The global picture remains a story of three different markets: Europe is showing rapid growth, China is still recovering from a slow start to the year, and North America continues to lose ground.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence data manager Charles Lester noted that Europe remains the most successful major EV market in 2026, thanks to government incentives and high fuel prices.

Europe remains the undisputed leader, showing 26% growth since the beginning of the year. This is driven by policy incentives and the growing presence of Chinese automakers. Fuel prices remain high, and given the developments in the Middle East, their dynamics should be closely monitored in the coming months,

The European market continues to grow

EV sales in Europe rose by 23% year-on-year in May and by 2% compared to April. Overall, the market has grown by 26% since the beginning of the year.

Demand is supported by government subsidies in effect in many European countries, as well as high fuel prices that make electric vehicles more attractive to buyers.

At the same time, Chinese electric vehicles continue to increase their market share despite European Union tariffs on Chinese BEV models and programs to support local production.

In the UK, 32% of electric vehicles sold this year were manufactured in China. In Germany, this figure is 14%, and in France, it is 10%.

Chinese automakers are increasingly considering the possibility of local production in Europe instead of exporting finished vehicles.

Stellantis confirmed that it will begin production of the Leapmotor B10 compact electric vehicle at a plant near Zaragoza, Spain, in the second half of 2026. Three more Leapmotor models are expected to join it later. Stellantis is also considering the possibility of producing Dongfeng vehicles in Europe.

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Ford confirmed negotiations with Geely regarding the partial sale of its plant in Valencia, Spain. Nissan and Chery continue to discuss the production of Chery vehicles at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, UK.

SAIC-MG recently announced plans to build a new plant in Spain, which could produce up to 120,000 vehicles per year by 2028. BYD is expected to start production in Hungary in late 2026, although plans to build a plant in Turkey have reportedly been put on hold, according to media reports.

North America continues to lag behind

Electric vehicle sales in North America remain under pressure.

According to Benchmark, sales in the region fell by 26% year-on-year in May and by 25% since the beginning of the year, although a 3% increase was recorded compared to April.

The decline is attributed to automakers scaling back their EV plans, the cancellation of the EV tax credit in the US in September 2025, and weakening government support for the industry.

After Canada introduced a tariff quota allowing the import of up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles at a lower duty rate, BYD announced its intention to enter the Canadian market by the end of 2026.

The Chinese manufacturer plans to open more than 20 dealerships in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. The initial lineup is expected to include the Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, and Seagull models.

EV exports from China hit records

China's domestic EV market remains weaker than last year, although sales have been gradually recovering in recent months.

For the period of January–May, EV sales in the country decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2025.

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At the same time, demand for batteries is not declining as fast as vehicle sales, as buyers increasingly choose larger models with higher-capacity batteries. Benchmark attributes this trend to a new subsidy program introduced earlier this year, which contributed to an increase in the average battery size in EVs sold.

Despite weakening domestic demand, exports continue to grow rapidly. In May, exports of Chinese New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) approached 450,000 units, setting a new monthly record.

Significant growth was shown in shipments of both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). BYD remains the export leader, followed by Chery and Geely. Tesla's Shanghai plant also makes a significant contribution to total export volumes.

According to Lester, the contrast between China's domestic market and its export performance is becoming increasingly noticeable.

"China's domestic market remains subdued, showing a 15% decline since the beginning of the year, while exports continue to grow to record levels. BYD, Chery, and Geely are leading in international markets. The gap between the weakness of domestic demand and the strength of the export direction continues to widen," he concluded.

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