Global EV sales hit 2 million units during June 2026 amid a surge in demand across Europe, but weakening sales in China as well as the U.S.
EV Sales Surge In Europe
According to data from Benchmark Intelligence, a market research firm cited in an Electrek report on Thursday, EV sales hit 2 million in June, up 11% from May 2026. Year-to-date (YTD) EV sales clocked in at 9.6 million units for 2026 from January to June, the data said.
Europe saw approximately 530,000 units sold during June, the research said. The figure represents a 31% surge compared to June 2025. YTD, Europe sold 2.5 million EVs during the first six months of the year.
North America, China Decline
In North America, EV sales plunged 20% during the first six months of the year, to 730,000 units compared to last year during the same period. In June, 130,000 EVs were sold in the region, down 13% YoY from June 2025, the report said.
The decline has been largely attributed to the sunsetting of the $7,500 Federal EV credit in the U.S., as well as President Donald Trump‘s pro-gasoline policies, the report said.
However, Canada’s tariff agreement with China to allow 49,000 EVs at 6.1% into the country saw the Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.-backed (OTC:GELHY) (OTC:GELYF) Lotus Eletre make its debut, the report said.
Sales were also down in the Chinese market, where June saw 1 million EVs sold, illustrating an 11% YoY decline. China remains the leader in EV adoption, with 4.9 million units sold from January to June this year. However, YTD sales were still down 14% compared to the same time last year.
While the domestic market shrank, Chinese automakers exported 500,000 New Energy Vehicle (NEV) units overseas during June, the report said. The figure represents a new record.
Tesla Model Y Becomes China’s Best-Seller
Tesla Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model Y became the best-selling vehicle in China during June, selling more than 38,000 units in the country. The vehicle reclaimed the spot in June after becoming the best-selling car during March 2026, when it sold 39,827 units.
The EV giant also unveiled the U.S.-spec Model Y L, a previously China-exclusive model, priced at $61,990. Tesla will also offer a free 12-month subscription for Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) with the Model Y L’s Launch Series. Deliveries are expected to begin around September this year.
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