Global EV Sales Hit 27% Share in July, Led
Global plugin vehicle registrations reached 1.8 million units in July, with battery electric vehicles capturing a 71% share of those sales.
Global plugin vehicle registrations reached approximately 1.8 million units in July, a 7% increase year-over-year. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) saw a 16% surge, while plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) declined by 11%.
This dynamic pushed the BEV share of all plugin sales to 71% for the month, representing about 1.3 million units. Excluding the markets of China and the United States, global EV registrations jumped 50% year-over-year in July, with BEVs alone surging 61%.
Market Share Milestones
July's performance resulted in a global plugin vehicle market share of 27% for the month. The year-to-date figures show BEVs holding a 17% share and PHEVs at 7%, for a combined 2026 EV share of 24%. For context, the report notes the EV share was 6% five years ago and around 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% compared to the same period last year. The Tesla Model 3, however, saw a sharp 44% year-over-year drop to 19,000 units, placing it 11th overall. The report suggests this was likely due to a temporary lack of available units for delivery.
The second-place BYD Song benefited from an export push and its new-generation Ultra body. The main story, however, was the dominance of small, affordable Chinese EVs, which occupied positions three through seven.
| Rank | Model | Manufacturer | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Model Y | Tesla | Deliveries down 9% YoY. |
| 2 | Song | BYD | Boosted by exports and new Ultra body. |
| 3 | Xingyuan | Geely | Part of a pack of small, high-volume EVs. |
| 4 | Yuan Up | BYD | Part of a pack of small, high-volume EVs. |
| 5 | Seagull | BYD | Part of a pack of small, high-volume EVs. |
| 6 | A10 | Leapmotor | Reached 3rd in China; exports to start soon. |
| 7 | Dolphin | BYD | 26,000 registrations, a high since Sept. 2025. |
| 8 | SU7 | Xiaomi | 21,000 units, ahead of Tesla Model 3. |
| 9 | Tai 7 | Fang Cheng Bao (BYD) | Close to 21,000 registrations, a new year best. |
| 11 | Model 3 | Tesla | 19,000 units, down 44% YoY. |
| 20 | B10 | Leapmotor | Made its debut on the top 20 list. |
The BYD Dolphin's 26,000 registrations were its best since last September, aided by strong performances in South Korea and Brazil. The Leapmotor A10, known as the B03X in export markets, was highlighted as a rapid riser, reaching third place in China for the month.
Leapmotor placed three models in the top 20, behind only BYD's seven. The report likened Leapmotor's strategy to a successful sports team, focusing on value-for-money, high-volume models for effectiveness over flashiness. The Toyota bZ4X, in 19th, was the only model from a traditional legacy automaker in the top 20.
Notable Performances Outside the Top 20
Several models just outside the top 20 posted record results. The Chery Jaecoo 5, described in the report as a sort of Range Rover Evoque for half the price, scored 11,969 registrations. The GAC Aion i60 compact crossover hit 11,206 registrations.
Zeekr's 007/7 GT twins had a record 9,477 registrations, while the Zeekr 7X crossover had its best result since November 2024 with 10,086 units. The new-generation Toyota RAV4 PHEV reached a record 12,236 registrations, fewer than 200 units from a top 20 spot.
The race for 20th place was exceptionally tight, with less than 400 units separating the Leapmotor B10 in 20th from the Volkswagen ID.4 in 24th. This group also included the BYD Seal 06, the Geely EX5, and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.
Source: CleanTechnica