Global electric vehicle (EV) sales have recorded the best ever Q2 on record, with sales up nearly a fifth (19%) on the first quarter of 2024.

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales have recorded the best ever Q2 on record

According to data from New AutoMotive’s Global Electric Vehicle Tracker (GEVT), there has been close to 2.6 million EV sales globally since May ‘24, with China’s domestic EV sales driving this growth.

In June, the market share of Chinese petrol and diesel vehicle sales fell for the fifth consecutive month, and are down 20% when compared to the same month last year – putting ICE vehicles on track to be obsolete by 2028.

Meanwhile, the United States also experienced strong growth over the past three months, with second quarter sales up 12% on Q1. In the year to June, more than 1.15 million EVs were sold across the country, 200,000 more than the previous 12 months.

In Europe, the decision to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs has not impacted the market yet, with 4 in 5 EU countries seeing an increase in total EV sales in the period between May and June.

Despite policy setbacks, both Germany and the UK reported their highest EV market share since December 2023, with total EV sales in June reaching 15% and 19% of the market respectively.

This figure puts the UK well on track to match IEA forecasts, who predicted in April the country’s combined EV and plug-in hybrid market share to reach 25% by the end of 2024.

UK car sales this year have already matched this level, whilst continental Europe and the US lag behind at 18% and 9% respectively.

In emerging markets, year on year growth remains strong, with EV sales in Thailand, India, Brazil, Chile and Mexico collectively more than doubling in the year to June compared to the previous 12 months. The sales in these countries combined are on course to overtake the UK’s by the end of the year.

Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said: “It’s encouraging to see such rapid EV sales growth, and the fact this trend is global shows that the transition to cleaner transport is well underway.

“Growth remains strong, particularly in emerging markets. Governments across the globe should remain steadfast in their commitment to electric vehicles. While the technology continues to develop, consumers need encouragement to make the switch through a mixture of incentives and manufacturer obligations.

“Disruptive changes to policy in Europe, though disappointing, cannot stand in the way of the inevitable rise of this technology and the promise of cleaner, cheaper transport. The only question is how quickly European governments want to use this technology to improve people’s lives.”

New AutoMotive’s monthly tracker analyses progress in the global phase out of sales of diesel and petrol vehicles. The platform covers car sales, targets, incentives, and regulations in 42 major automotive markets – nearly 85% of the world’s new car sales.

The detailed report breaks down vehicles registered across the globe by fuel type, manufacturer and market share, with all the data freely available to view and download.

You can view this month’s report here