EV research firm Rho Motion reported that 1.6 million electric vehicles sold globally in May 2025, with 7.2 million sold year-to-date (YTD). The EV market grew by 24% in May 2025 compared to May 2024, and by 8% compared to April 2025.

The story this month with global vehicle sales is the continued chasm between Chinese market growth which saw one million vehicles sold in May, versus the faltering market in N. America. The European region is showing healthy signs of electrification, especially in Spain and Italy. At this stage in the EV adoption curve, incentives and policies are having a major impact as seen in Canada whose pause in support has resulted in a 20% decline and in Germany where the launch of new commercial tax breaks will likely start boosting sales in the coming months.

—Rho Motion Data Manager, Charles Lester

Snapshot electric vehicle sales in Jan-May 2025 vs Jan-May 2024, YTD %:

• Global: 7.2 million, +28%

• China: 4.4 million, +33%

• Europe: 1.6 million, +27%

• North America: 0.7 million, +3%

• Rest of World: 0.6 million, +36%

Europe. The European EV market has grown by 27% in the opening five months of the year, reaching 1.6 million units sold. The pace of growth continues to rise for many major European countries, with Germany’s EV sales now at 45% growth YTD and the UK at 32% growth YTD. Other European countries that have previously been slower to electrify, are also growing fast, such as Spain with 72% YTD growth and Italy with 58% increase this year.

Extra relief has also been announced in Germany as it launched a new incentive plan for electric vehicles. The plan aims to accelerate EV adoption among corporate fleets through special depreciation for EVs and other tax relief measures, which Rho Motion anticipates will have a positive impact as the corporate share accounts for more than half of the new vehicle market.

North America. The North American EV market (US, Canada, and Mexico) has grown by 3% YTD in 2025, with the Canadian market holding back the region as it has fallen by ~20% YTD due to the pausing of EV subsidies earlier in the year.

The US market is still experiencing moderate growth of 4% YTD, with tax credits remaining in place for eligible vehicles for the rest of 2025 which is expected to help maintain EV sales growth, as well as result in some pull forward in demand towards the end of the year. The tax credit is then being significantly phased out in 2026, before being completely phased out by 2027.

China. EV sales have reached more than one million units in a month for the first time this year, a feat that first occurred in August last year. The Chinese market increased by 33% in Jan-May 2025 compared to the same period last year.

EV sales went up by 10% month-on-month in May 2025 and by 25% year-on-year. Chinese manufacturers continue to expand their market share abroad, with BYD releasing more BEVs and PHEVs in Europe, with hybrids not being subject to the additional EU tariff. Most recently, BYD has released its small segment EV, the Dolphin Surf (‘Seagull’ in China), in Europe, competitively priced at ~US$25,000.