Global EV sales on rise in July

By Emir Yildirim

ISTANBUL (AA) – Global electric vehicle (EV) sales, including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), rose 21% year-on-year in July to 1.4 million, according to the UK-based market research firm Rho Motion on Tuesday.

BEVs made up 65% of global sales, while PHEVs represented 35%, whose market share increased by 5 percentage points on an annual basis, in Jan-July, data showed.

EV sales in China rose 31% year-on-year in July, mostly from record-high PHEV sales of 400,000 units, as the EV models commercially available soared, including range extender EVs, while the Chinese automaker BYD increased production.

Meanwhile, EV sales in Europe dropped 28% in the same period due to weaker sales in Germany.

As for North America, EV sales increased 7% on an annual basis, as the US-based General Motors’ production increased.