EV sales growth to slow in 2026 after 20% rise in 2025: report

Global EV registrations grew 20% in 2025 but are expected to slow in 2026, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI).

In December, global EV registrations rose 6% to nearly 2.1 million units, bringing the 2025 total to 20.7 million vehicles.

China sold 12.9 million EVs in 2025 and produced 71% of global supply, though December growth slowed to 2%.

North America saw registrations fall 39% in December and 4% for the year after US tax credits ended.

Europe recorded strong growth, up 34% in December and 33% for 2025.

BMI forecasts global EV sales of 23.9 million in 2026, up 15.7%, but expects a 23% drop in North America.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

December EV registrations rose 2% year over year, the slowest since February 2024, as purchase incentives wind down and demand shifts to regular buying patterns (Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI).
China led with 12.9 million EVs sold in 2025 (Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI) and a 34% Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) share in Q3 2025 1. BEV sales jumped 36% in Q3 2025 while Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) volumes fell 6% 1.
With 71% of global production, factories now face slower growth in tier-1 cities while automakers compete on price with innovation (Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI).
North America dropped 39% in December to slightly above 100,000 vehicles, with a 4% full-year slide after US tax credits ended (Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI).

Europe grew 33% in 2025 while the rest of the world climbed 48%, which will strain chargers as Europe’s top five markets saw BEV sales up 32% in Q3 2025 1 (Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI).
Operators face a patchwork market in Europe, where Denmark hit 70% BEV share while the UK reached 23% 1. They need localized uptime monitoring (real-time charger availability and reliability tracking) plus payment roaming solutions (cross-network, cross-border payment acceptance) for cross-border charging 1.
Battery plus energy management companies can target these regions with grid-integration software (tools that synchronize charging with power-grid capacity) to help utilities handle demand swings with smart charging systems (automated load shifting and rate control).