Global EV registrations rose 6% year-over-year in April, with regional markets diverging

In April, global new registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) reached 1.6 million units, up 6% year-over-year but down 9% month-over-month, falling short of the record high seen in March. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), persistently high gasoline prices, policy incentives, and the growing influence of Chinese automakers are key factors underpinning demand. The European market showed strong performance, with EV registrations rising 27% year-over-year to approximately 400,000 units in April. Countries in the European Economic Area and Switzerland have committed nearly €200 billion to building an EV ecosystem. Despite the EU’s imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese EVs, Chinese brands’ share of BEV and PHEV sales in Europe rose to 22% in the first four months of 2026, up from 19% during the same period last year. In China, EV registrations in April declined 8% year-over-year to around 850,000 units, primarily due to the phasing out of vehicle replacement subsidies and the expiration of purchase tax exemptions. However, exports continued to surge, exceeding 400,000 units in a single month. In the first four months of 2026, total Chinese auto exports neared 1.4 million units, more than doubling compared to the same period last year. The North American market saw an overall decline: U.S. EV registrations in April dropped 28% year-over-year to 120,000 units, mainly due to the expiration of tax credit incentives and proposed relaxations of carbon emission regulations. Mexico reported nearly 50% year-over-year growth in EV sales, while Canada saw a 7% year-over-year decline—though new incentive policies are expected to drive a recovery in the coming months.