Automotive
Global EV sales rise 8% in October, with Europe up 36%
Electrek reports global EV sales rose 8% in October to 2.09 million, with Europe up 36%, citing Benchmark Mineral Intelligence data.
The short version
- Electrek reports that Benchmark Mineral Intelligence data show global EV sales rose 8% in October to 2.09 million.[Electrek]
- Europe sold 510,000 EVs in October, up 36%, with battery electric vehicle sales in Europe up 49%.[Electrek]
- North America rose 24% to 130,000, but Benchmark's data manager says the US market stabilized at a lower level rather than fully recovering.[Electrek]
- China sold 1.14 million EVs in October, down 12% year over year but up 5% from September.[Electrek]
Key facts
- Global EV sales totaled 2.09 million in October, down 3% from September, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence data.[Electrek]
- Global EV sales totaled 17.5 million in the first 10 months of 2026, up 5% from the same period last year.[Electrek]
- Europe's battery electric vehicle sales jumped 49% in October, and Europe sold 510,000 EVs overall, up 36% year over year.[Electrek]
- North American EV sales rose 24% year over year to 130,000 in October, the region's first annual increase of 2026.[Electrek]
- China sold 1.14 million EVs in October, up 5% from September but down 12% year over year.[Electrek]
What remains uncertain
- Benchmark's data manager, Charles Lester, attributes the US pattern to October being the first month compared against a period without the federal tax credit; this is his characterization, not a settled finding.[Electrek]
- The figures come from a single outlet, Electrek, citing one data provider, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, and were not independently confirmed in this review.[Electrek]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.