Global EV Sales – To outline which countries are leading or lagging in the shift to electric mobility, the team at TradingPedia analysed global electric vehicle (EV) sales.
By examining new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) for January-December 2023 and 2024, alongside figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA). We also looked at sales figures for the first three months of 2025. The complete dataset is available on Google Drive via this link.
According to our research, China led global EV sales in 2024 with 11.3 million vehicles sold, a 39.5% increase from 2023. The United States followed with 1.5 million units, ahead of Germany (572,514) and the United Kingdom (549,148). In terms of EV share of all new car sales, however, Scandinavia shows impressive dedication to decarbonisation, with electric cars accounting for more than 90% of newly registered vehicles in Norway and more than 55% in Sweden and Denmark.
Here are a few key takeaways from the report:
- China remains the largest EV market in the world, with 11.3 million battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles purchased in 2024. This is a massive increase of 39.5% from 2023 and accounts for 48% of all new car sales in the country.
- The United States ranks second with 1.2 million battery electric vehicles and 320,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles sold, firmly establishing itself as the undisputed leader in the North American market.
- Germany, ranked third globally, leads Europe with 572,514 EV registrations in 2024, including 381,000 BEVs and 192,000 PHEVs. The United Kingdom follows closely with 549,148 EVs (382,000 BEVs and 167,000 PHEVs), while France is next with 291,000 BEVs and 146,000 PHEVs.
- Many non-European countries saw rapid growth in EV adoption in 2024. Indonesia recorded a remarkable 186% increase in EV sales from 2023, surpassing 49,000 units. Similarly, Chile’s EV market expanded swiftly, growing over 165% year-over-year, though from a smaller base, reaching 5,600 vehicles.
- Despite growth in new EV registrations in some European markets last year, overall numbers dipped slightly compared to 2023. In 2024, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles registered across Europe totalled 2,928,551, a decrease of 2.18% from the previous year. Meanwhile, hybrid vehicles gained traction, with just over 4 million units sold, marking a 19.6% increase from 2023.
- In 2024, Chinese EV manufacturer BYD overtook the long-time global leader Tesla in sales, moving 932K vehicles, nearly three times Tesla’s 336K units, signalling a major shift in the electric vehicle industry. Since 2023, BYD has also claimed the title of China’s best-selling car brand, surpassing Germany’s Volkswagen and continuing to set new records.
Europe EV sales decline
In Europe, new EV registrations slightly declined in 2024, totalling 2.93 million, down 2.18% from 2023. Hybrids grew in popularity, with over 4 million sold, a 19.6% increase. Petrol vehicles made up 4.2 million registrations, and diesel about 1.3 million. Diesel cars accounted for 10.4% of new sales, petrol 33%, hybrids 31.4%, and EVs 22.7%. Aside from hybrids, all vehicle categories saw slight declines, with diesel experiencing the largest drop of 11.8% compared to last year.
More detailed insights into global car sales by type can be found in the full report, which also explains the methodology used.
This article first appeared here – Global Demand for EVs: Market Shifts and Growth Trends by Country in 2024 and 2025