Global EV sales hit 1.1 million – Europe surges while the US slides

Global EV sales hit 1.1 million units in February 2026, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. But the global market is now splitting sharply by region.

While Europe’s EV sales are surging, North America is seeing a steep slowdown, and China is adjusting to new policies at home. February’s total was down 11% year-over-year and 11% below January. For the first two months of 2026, global EV sales reached 2.2 million units, down 8% compared to the same period last year.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence says the global EV market is now showing increasingly sharp regional contrasts.

Year‑to‑date EV sales for January–February 2026 compared with the same period in 2025:

Europe is currently the main growth engine, while North America is seeing a steep slowdown and China is adjusting to policy changes at home.

Europe’s EV market rose 1% month-over-month in February and is now up 21% year to date. Germany and France are leading the region’s growth.

EV sales in Germany are up 26% so far this year, following the country’s introduction of a new subsidy program at the start of 2026. France’s market is up 30%, supported by its existing incentive program.

Italy is also seeing rapid growth. EV sales there jumped 23% month-over-month in February, making it the country’s strongest month ever for EV sales. The Italian market is now up 98% year to date.

That surge follows the Italian government’s October 2025 launch of a new subsidy program, funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, to increase EV adoption. Households can receive up to €11,000 ($12,700) in incentives, while smaller businesses can get up to €20,000 ($23,200).

North America’s EV market grew 8% month-over-month in February, but sales remain down 36% year to date.

The US is driving most of that year-over-year decline. Many automakers are reporting steep drops in battery‑electric vehicle sales.

Ford’s BEV sales are down 70% so far this year. Honda’s have dropped 81%, and Kia’s are down 52%.

The slowdown is starting to ripple through the supply chain. Battery manufacturer SK On recently laid off 37% of its workforce at its Georgia factory.

Canada’s EV market is also down 23% year to date after February 2026. The country is trying to revive demand through policy changes, including an agreement with China that allows Chinese‑made EVs to enter Canada with a reduced tariff rate of 6.1%.

The first application window for import permits under that agreement opened on March 1 and will run for six months. Up to 24,500 permits will be issued on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

Canada and Germany also announced plans in February to expand cooperation across the EV and battery supply chains, including increased EV trade.

China’s EV market fell 32% in February compared with the same month last year.

The decline comes as China reintroduced an EV purchase tax for the first time since 2014 and adjusted its trade‑in program. The timing of the Chinese New Year also affected sales volumes.

Even so, EV exports from China are surging. Chinese automakers shipped more than half a million EVs overseas in the first two months of 2026, more than double the level seen a year earlier.

Many Chinese automakers have set aggressive export targets for this year.

Outside the major EV markets, sales are climbing quickly.

EV sales worldwide rose 78% in February compared with the same month in 2025.

South Korea is a standout example. EV sales there more than tripled month-over-month to more than 37,200 vehicles, the first time the country’s monthly EV sales have exceeded 30,000 units.

EV adoption in South Korea also reached a new milestone, with EVs accounting for 30% of the market for the first time.

The jump followed the launch of the country’s 2026 EV subsidy program, which aims to encourage smaller, more affordable EVs.

South Korea’s EV market is known for responding quickly to subsidy changes, and analysts say that trend could be even stronger this year as buyers who missed last year’s incentives rush to take advantage of the new program.

The most interesting takeaway here isn’t the headline number; it’s the growing regional split.

Europe’s EV market is accelerating thanks to the return of subsidies and policy support, while North America is heading in the opposite direction as the Trump administration works to deliberately harm its own EV market by canceling subsidies and policy support.

China’s slowdown looks more like a policy adjustment than a long‑term demand problem, especially since exports are booming.

In other words, the global EV transition isn’t slowing, but it’s becoming much more uneven depending on policy, incentives, and trade rules.

Read more: Europe surges, US stumbles, China cools: EV sales dip in 2026

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Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.

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