Global EV sales slow to 21% growth in July as China cools, Europe surges

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales grew 21% in July, the slowest pace since January, as China’s plug-in hybrid boom eased, research firm Rho Motion said on Wednesday.

China, the world’s largest car market, saw EV sales rise 12% in July, far below the 36% monthly average recorded in the first half of the year. That drop came as some government subsidy programs paused, dampening demand.

Despite China’s slowdown, Europe provided a bright spot. Sales there jumped 48% to around 390,000 vehicles, helped by incentives designed to reduce emissions. North America posted a 10% rise to more than 170,000, while the rest of the world surged 55% to over 140,000 units.

Globally, sales of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 1.6 million in July. BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, logged its third straight monthly drop in registrations.

“Despite regional variations, the overall trajectory for EV adoption in 2025 remains strongly upward,” said Charles Lester, data manager at Rho Motion. He added that China’s market is expected to rebound in August when subsidy funds restart, while looming U.S. tax credit cuts could curb American demand in the coming months.

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