Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in EV and battery supply chain research and insights, reports that 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold globally in January 2026. The global EV market was down 3% compared to January 2025, and down 44% compared to December 2025, driven by a 55% month-on-month and 20% year-on-year decrease in China.

Snapshot electric vehicle sales in Jan 2026 vs Jan 2025 (m-o-m vs Dec 2025):

• Global: 1.2 million, -3% (-44%)

• China: 0.60 million, -20% (-55%)

• Europe: 0.32 million, +24% (-33%)

• North America: 0.09 million, -33% (-27%)

• Rest of World: 0.19 million, +92% (+0%)

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Data Manager, Charles Lester, commented:

“The EV market entered 2026 with a virtually unrecognisable landscape compared to its entry into 2025. Globally EV sales started 2026 down 3%, largely a consequence of China’s EV market contracting 20% compared to January 2025. January brought with it two key changes to China’s EV market, with the introduction of a purchase tax for EVs, as well as a reduction in the generosity of its trade-in scheme for 2026.

“The European market retained its position as the fastest-growing major market, with its growth supporting the global EV market and preventing further contraction of the global EV market in January. It continues to be spurred on by the EU emission standards and, increasingly, the return of subsidy schemes to major markets.

“Europe’s strong growth is sharply contrasted by North America, with the region’s EV market undergoing a period of readjustment. In the US, vehicle manufactures are realigning investment and production plans following Trump’s roll back on EV incentives from both the standpoint of consumers and manufacturers. Ford, GM and Stellantis have all taken significant multi-billion-dollar write-downs as they pivot their North American strategy away from EVs. Canada is looking to reinvigorate its EV market after 2025 brought the end of its subsidy scheme. The Canadian government reached an agreement with China to allow up to 49,000 Chinese made EVs into Canada at a tariff rate below 100% for the first time since 1 October 2024.”

Europe

The European EV market started 2026 up 24% after selling over 320,000 EV units in January 2026. The European market continued the strong growth it experienced in 2025, when it was the fastest growing major region as vehicle manufactures pushed to meet the EU tailpipe emissions targets. While these targets were softened in 2025, EV sales in Europe must continue to grow if manufactures wish to avoid facing tough fines.

Entering 2026, the subsidy landscape in the European EV market has shifted from where it was 12 months ago. Several major European automotive markets reintroduced EV subsidy schemes in 2025 and the start of 2026. The UK, Germany and France all recently reintroduced subsidy schemes and experienced year-on-year growth rates of 14%, 25% and 41%, respectively.

Not all European markets grew year-on-year. The Norwegian EV market contracted 71% year-on-year and 92% month-on-month after a significant pre-buying effect in the final months of 2025 due to the tightening of VAT exemptions for EVs from 1 January 2026. The Netherlands fell 28% year-on-year and 64% month-on-month, again following a pre-buying effect in the final months of 2025 before an increase in the tax that company cars are subject to.

North America

Following the turbulence of 2025 for the North American EV market, sales in the region fell 33% year-on-year in January 2026. The decrease was driven by the US market which saw its lowest monthly EV since early 2022. The market continues to struggle following the elimination of federal tax credits on 30 September 2025, as well as the abolition of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards fines and the introduction of protectionist policies seeking to localise vehicle production and supply chains.

In January 2026, Canada and China reached an agreement that will allow up to 49,000 Chinese made EVs into Canada at the most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1%. This will strengthen the Canadian EV market which struggled in 2025 following the end of its EV subsidy scheme in January 2025 and its deteriorating trade relationship with the US throughout last year.

China

The Chinese EV market fell 3% in January 2026 compared to the same period last year. January brought two major changes to the Chinese market. EVs became subject to purchase tax for the first time since 2014. Although EVs are not yet subject to the standard 10% purchase tax rate levied on internal combustion engine vehicles, with most EVs facing a purchase tax of 5%. China’s trade-in scheme became proportional for 2026, as opposed to the flat-rate subsidy applied in 2025. Consequently, average subsidy levels will be lower in 2026 than in 2025, with price reductions for smaller EVs no longer as significant.

Rest of World (RoW)

The RoW had a strong start to 2026 with its sales almost doubling compared to January 2025, supported by significant growth in South Korea, Brazil and Thailand.

Thailand’s EV sales more than tripled year-on-year to over 44,000 units in January 2026, a record month for the country. The surge in sales was driven by vehicle manufacturers being granted an extension to January 2026 to register their vehicles under Thailand’s EV3 scheme. Alongside consumer subsidies, the EV3 and EV3.5 schemes offer reduced import duties on completely built-up EVs, providing these are offset by local EV production. The increase in sales was also supported by reductions in vehicle excise tax rates for EVs from 1 January 2026.

The insights above were produced using data from Benchmark's EV & Battery Service. For more information, get in touch with the form below: