In 2025, 20.7 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold worldwide — roughly 7 times the 2020 figure.

“We hear a lot about the EV shift, but it’s hard to keep track of which countries are buying how many and which manufacturers are leading.” We hear this often from overseas business managers and corporate planning teams in manufacturing. This article organizes 2025 global EV sales data by country, manufacturer, and model, drawing on primary sources such as the IEA and individual manufacturers’ IR releases.

Definitions used in this article. “EV” refers to the combined total of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), passenger cars only. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are not included. Unless otherwise noted, the data source is the IEA Global EV Data Explorer (CC BY 4.0).

Global EV Sales Hit 20.7 Million in 2025 — Up Sevenfold in Five Years

Global EV sales reached 20.7 million units in 2025, roughly 7 times the 2.97 million sold in 2020.

According to a preliminary report from Rho Motion (January 14, 2026), global EV sales rose 18% year-on-year to 20.7 million units in 2025. Growth has slowed, but absolute volume continues to set new records.

Year Sales (BEV+PHEV) YoY EV Share
2010 7,450 units — 0.01%
2011 49,000 units +558% 0.07%
2012 118,000 units +141% 0.18%
2013 201,000 units +70% 0.29%
2014 330,000 units +64% 0.44%
2015 520,000 units +58% 0.68%
2016 780,000 units +50% 0.96%
2017 1.20 million units +54% 1.5%
2018 2.05 million units +71% 2.5%
2019 2.08 million units +1% 2.7%
2020 2.97 million units +43% 4.4%
2021 6.60 million units +122% 9.3%
2022 10.20 million units +55% 15%
2023 13.70 million units +34% 18%
2024 17.50 million units +28% 22%
2025 20.70 million units (preliminary) +18% —

Source: IEA Global EV Data Explorer (2010-2024 final figures), Rho Motion (2025 preliminary)

The IEA’s STEPS scenario (current-policy basis) projects 40 million annual sales, a 42% EV share, and a global EV stock of 232 million by 2030. That said, the projection could fall short if US tariffs tighten further or the macroeconomic outlook deteriorates.

China Captures 65% of the Global Market — Country-Level Sales Ranking (2024)

Of the 17.5 million EVs sold worldwide, China accounted for 11.3 million (65%) — an overwhelming lead. The gap to second-place USA (1.52 million) is more than 7x.

The country ranking below is based on 2024 final data from the IEA Global EV Data Explorer.

Rank Country Sales Global Share
1 China 11.30 million 64.6%
2 USA 1.52 million 8.7%
3 Germany 570,000 3.3%
4 UK 550,000 3.1%
5 France 450,000 2.6%
6 Canada 252,000 1.4%
7 Belgium 197,000 1.1%
8 Netherlands 182,000 1.0%
9 Sweden 157,000 0.9%
10 Spain 128,000 0.7%
11 South Korea 128,000 0.7%
12 Brazil 125,000 0.7%
13 Italy 118,000 0.7%
14 Norway 114,000 0.6%
15 Australia 112,000 0.6%
16 Turkey 106,000 0.6%
17 Japan 103,000 0.6%
18 Denmark 96,000 0.5%
19 India 92,000 0.5%
20 Thailand 80,000 0.5%
21 Israel 76,000 0.4%
— Other 1.04 million 6.0%
World total 17.50 million 100%

China alone makes up about two-thirds of the global market — an extreme concentration. The top 5 countries (China, USA, Germany, UK, France) together account for 82% of global sales. Japan ranks 17th (103,000 units), a quiet showing for one of the world’s largest auto-producing nations.

“Volume” and “Penetration” Are Different Stories — Electrification Rate Ranking (2024)

China dominates by volume, but on penetration rate (EVs as a share of new-car sales) Norway leads the world at 92%. Volume and rate paint completely different pictures.

The volume ranking is heavily influenced by population and market size. To gauge how fast electrification is actually progressing, the penetration rate matters more.

Rank Country EV Share Sales
1 Norway 92% 114,000
2 Sweden 58% 157,000
3 Denmark 56% 96,000
4 Finland 50% 37,000
5 China 48% 11.30 million
6 Netherlands 48% 182,000
7 Belgium 43% 197,000
8 Iceland 42% 4,000
9 Luxembourg 36% 17,000
10 Portugal 33% 70,000
11 Switzerland 28% 67,000
12 UK 28% 550,000
13 Ireland 25% 30,000
14 Austria 24% 62,000
15 France 24% 450,000
(ref. 17) Germany 19% 570,000
(ref. 22) Thailand 13% 80,000
(ref. 31) USA 10% 1.52 million
(ref. 33) South Korea 9.2% 128,000
(ref. 49) Japan 2.8% 103,000

Note. Global average is 22% (2024). Source: IEA Global EV Data Explorer, CC BY 4.0

Norway’s combination of charging-infrastructure rollout and tax incentives pushed EVs to 92% of new-car sales in 2024. Japan’s 2.8% is less than one-eighth of the global average, a stark gap between its standing as an auto-industry powerhouse and its electrification progress.

BYD Is 2.8x Tesla — Manufacturer-Level Global EV Sales Ranking (2025)

BYD leads globally with 4.6 million units, 2.8x Tesla’s 1.64 million. Eight of the top 13 are Chinese makers, and the VW Group climbs to fourth.

The figures below combine 2025 full-year (BEV+PHEV) data from each manufacturer’s IR disclosures and Hong Kong Stock Exchange filings.

Rank Manufacturer Country Sales Global Share YoY Source
1 BYD China 4.60 million 22.2% +8% HKEX Filing
2 Geely China 1.688 million 8.2% +90% HKEX Filing
3 Tesla USA 1.64 million 7.9% -9% Tesla IR
4 VW Group Germany 1.41 million 6.8% +32% VW IR
5 Changan China 1.109 million 5.4% +51% Securities Times
6 SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) China 1.00 million 4.8% +32% Sina Finance
7 Chery China 904,000 4.4% +55% Sina Finance
8 BMW Germany 642,000 3.1% +8% BMW IR
9 Leapmotor China 597,000 2.9% +103% CCTV
10 HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) China 589,000 2.8% +32% Sina Tech
11 Hyundai-Kia South Korea 570,000+ 2.8% +18% Hyundai IR
12 Xiaomi China 411,000 2.0% First year OFweek
13 Mercedes-Benz Germany 369,000 1.8% ±0% Mercedes IR

Denominator. Global EV sales of 20.7 million (Rho Motion, BEV+PHEV). The top 13 combined account for roughly 15.53 million units, or about 75% of the world.

A note on the data — Chinese makers’ published figures mix “shipments (wholesale)” and “deliveries (retail)” depending on the source. The Hyundai-Kia line is a lower bound because Hyundai does not separately disclose its PHEV volumes. Seres (472,000 units) overlaps with HIMA’s AITO brand and is therefore excluded from the ranking to avoid double-counting.

Snapshot of the Top 13

Eight of the top 13 are Chinese. VW and BMW are holding their own, but every other Western manufacturer except Tesla has dropped out of the top 10.

Rank Manufacturer Key Brands / Models Notes
1 BYD Seal, Dolphin, Seagull Vertically integrated from cells to vehicle. Overseas exports (1.05 million) are growing fast
2 Tesla Model Y, Model 3 FSD (Full Self-Driving) and a proprietary charging network are the moats. Sales fell in 2025 but it remains the world’s #1 BEV maker
3 Geely Zeekr, Galaxy Parent of Volvo. Premium (Zeekr) plus mass-market (Galaxy) drove +90% YoY growth
4 VW Group ID. series, Cupra Europe’s largest EV maker. ID. lineup and Cupra together delivered +32% BEV growth
5 Changan Deepal, Avatr Partners with Huawei (Avatr brand). Overseas shipments of 637,000
6 SGMW Hongguang Mini EV, Bingo Built on ultra-low-cost EVs. Crossed 1 million annual NEV sales for the first time
7 Chery iCAR The most aggressive Chinese exporter. 2025 exports of 1.34 million
8 BMW iX, i4, iX1 Electrified vehicles at 26% of sales. BEV+PHEV combined of 642,000
9 Leapmotor C10, C16 European sales partnership with Stellantis. +103% YoY
10 HIMA AITO, Luxeed Huawei-led EV ecosystem with five brands. Average selling price approximately $54,000
11 Hyundai-Kia IONIQ 5, EV6 800V ultra-fast charging is a key differentiator. Group BEV sales around 510,000
12 Xiaomi SU7 A rare smartphone-to-EV crossover. 410,000 SU7s sold and profitable in its first year — highly unusual
13 Mercedes-Benz EQS, EQE BEV down 9% but offset by PHEV. Total xEV at 370,000, roughly flat

For more on the cost structure of Chinese EV makers and how exports into ASEAN are unfolding, see our Japanese report: Chinese EV Manufacturer Sales Ranking 2026.

The World’s Best-Selling EV Was the Model Y — Model-Level Ranking (2025)

The world’s best-selling EV in 2025 was the Tesla Model Y (1.086 million units). In China, Geely’s Galaxy Xingyuan took the top spot, while Tesla dominated the top of the US ranking.

A caveat — the scope of each ranking differs. The global ranking covers BEVs only (no PHEVs), the China ranking is NEV (BEV+PHEV) on a retail basis, and the US ranking is BEV only based on KBB estimates.

Global BEV Sales — Top 10 (Full-Year 2025)

Source: Autovista24 (based on EV Volumes data), BEV only

Rank Model Sales Global Share YoY
1 Tesla Model Y 1.086 million 7.9% -8%
2 Tesla Model 3 500,000 3.6% -6%
3 Geely Galaxy Xingyuan 474,000 3.5% +800%
4 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV 432,000 3.2% +65%
5 BYD Seagull 410,000 3.0% -13%
6 Xiaomi SU7 259,000 1.9% First year
7 BYD Yuan Up 252,000 1.8% +84%
8 BYD Dolphin 227,000 1.7% +5%
9 BYD Yuan Plus (Atto 3 overseas) 225,000 1.6% -34%
10 XPeng MONA M03 177,000 1.3% +265%

Eight of the top 10 are Chinese models. The VW ID.3, which was in the top 10 in 2024, fell out, and no European nameplate remains in the global top 10. The Galaxy Xingyuan, a low-priced hatchback launched in October 2024 starting at around $9,260, sold 474,000 units in just over a year.

China NEV Models — Top 10 (Full-Year 2025, Retail Basis)

Source: CPCA (China Passenger Car Association) and Yiche, via CarNewsChina (2026-01-17), NEV (BEV+PHEV)

Rank Model Sales Notes
1 Geely Galaxy Xingyuan 466,000 Pure-electric hatchback
2 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV 436,000 Ultra-compact EV (around $3,300)
3 Tesla Model Y 425,000 SUV
4 BYD Qin PLUS 387,000 Sedan (mostly PHEV)
5 BYD Seagull 311,000 Pure-electric subcompact
6 BYD Qin L 265,000 Sedan
7 Xiaomi SU7 258,000 Sedan (newcomer)
8 BYD Seal 06 220,000 Sedan
9 Tesla Model 3 200,000 Sedan
10 BYD Song PLUS 200,000 SUV

Ultra-small, low-priced EVs in the around $3,300-6,700 range dominate the top of the Chinese ranking, where price competition is intense. BYD has five models in the top 10. Tesla, with the Model Y (3rd) and Model 3 (9th), is the only foreign brand to make the cut.

US BEV Models — Top 10 (Full-Year 2025)

Source: Cox Automotive / KBB, EV Sales Report Q4 2025 (2026-01-13), BEV only, Tesla figures are KBB estimates

Rank Model Sales YoY
1 Tesla Model Y 358,000 -4%
2 Tesla Model 3 190,000 +1%
3 Chevrolet Equinox EV 58,000 +101%
4 Ford Mustang Mach-E 52,000 ±0%
5 Hyundai IONIQ 5 47,000 +6%
6 Honda Prologue 39,000 +19%
7 Ford F-150 Lightning 27,000 -19%
8 Rivian R1S 25,000 -8%
9 Chevrolet Blazer EV 23,000 -2%
10 VW ID.4 22,000 +31%

Tesla still holds the top two slots, but its market share has dropped to 46% (down from 79% in 2020). No Chinese model is in the ranking — the 100% tariff is effectively a ban on entry. The Honda Prologue (built on GM’s Ultium platform) recorded around 40,000 units in its first full year, making it the only Japanese-brand entry in the top 10.

Comparing China and the US, China’s top sellers are ultra-small EVs in the around $3,300-6,700 range, while in the US the cheapest top-10 EV is the Equinox EV at roughly $34,000. One thing both markets share — the Tesla Model Y is the best-seller in each.

Mind the Definitional Differences Between Data Sources

This article standardizes on “passenger cars, BEV+PHEV”, but the original definitions used by each source differ. The following table is a reference for comparing figures across sources.

Source Vehicle Scope Powertrain Counting Basis
IEA Passenger cars BEV+PHEV Sales
Rho Motion Passenger cars + light commercial BEV+PHEV Sales
CAAM All vehicles (incl. commercial) NEV (BEV+PHEV+FCEV) Wholesale shipments
CPCA Passenger cars only NEV (BEV+PHEV+FCEV) Retail
ACEA Passenger cars BEV, PHEV separately New registrations
Cox / KBB Passenger cars + light trucks BEV-focused Sales
Autovista24 Passenger cars BEV, PHEV separately Sales

The Chinese figures in particular vary widely between CAAM (16.49 million) and CPCA (12.81 million). The gap reflects commercial vehicles, inventory swings, and exports.

Sources