Global EV sales fall 2% in September, ending six-month growth streak

Key facts

• Global EV sales fell 2% in September.
• Europe achieved record EV sales in September.
• North American sales declined 44% in September.
• China's EV sales decreased by 18% in September.

Global electric vehicle demand decreased by 2% in September, halting a six-month growth period. While Europe experienced record sales, this was not enough to offset significant declines in North America and China, according to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Europe's strong performance was attributed to robust consumer demand and policy support. In contrast, North America's sharp 44% sales drop was influenced by the prior year's rush to purchase vehicles before federal tax credits expired. China's domestic market also weakened, with sales falling 18% to 1.11 million vehicles, leading automakers to increase their reliance on exports. The research firm noted that year-over-year comparisons for North America will ease from the fourth quarter as they lap the post-tax-credit slump.