Global electric, hybrid vehicle sales hit 1.9 million units

Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 23% year-on-year to 1.9 million units in October 2025, according to market research firm Rho Motion.

China accounted for about 1.3 million of these sales, making up more than half of the global total.

European sales rose 36% to 372,786 units, with Germany, France, and the UK leading demand.

North American sales dropped 41% to 100,370 units, after record highs in August and September after a US$7,500 tax credit expired.

Rho Motion said battery-electric vehicles in the US remain much more expensive than internal combustion models, contributing to the sales drop.

Sales in the rest of the world rose 37% to 141,368 vehicles.

Rho Motion expects continued strong EV sales growth in Europe and China through the end of 2025, with Chinese demand likely to rise as new tax policies take effect.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

China shifts from subsidies to competitive maturity

EVs already account for over 45% of new car sales in China 1. Full purchase tax exemptions end in December 2025.
A 50% vehicle purchase tax break (a levy paid when buying a car) stays, capped at 15,000 yuan vs 30,000 1. That halves the per-car outlay.
Beijing wants competition to focus on value over discounting 1.
New rules require plug-in hybrids to deliver 100 km of electric-only range to qualify 1.
Year-end timing pulled orders forward, with some dealerships seeing nearly 60% more demand 1.

Europe’s charging networks face a scaling test after a 36% sales jump

October EV sales rose 36% to 372,786, lifting strain on chargers. Germany, France and the UK face the brunt. This is according to Rho Motion, a market research firm that tracks EV and battery markets.
Germany plans a €3 billion fund for low- and middle-income households 2. Policymakers floated eligibility for commuters earning €40,000 to €60,000 per year, which would lift workplace and home charging demand.
Social leasing proposals could put EVs near €99 per month 2. Providers could forecast installs and staffing off that steady flow if approved.
Poland has over 50,000 EVs and 4,400 charge points 3. Providers can move early to secure sites before rivals scale.
Payment processors and charge-point management platforms can tie pricing to Norway’s Strømstøtte electricity subsidy programs (a government scheme that compensates households for high power prices) 3. That fit can lift transactions and match local costs in a mature EV market.