Top Selling Electric Vehicles in the World — 27% EV Share in August!

Global electric car sales keep climbing. In August, plug-in vehicles (battery electric and plug-in hybrid combined) made up 27 percent of all new cars sold worldwide, with fully electric models alone at 20 percent. Battery electric vehicles grew 13 percent compared to last year, while plug-in hybrids fell 12 percent, a split that's been building all year. One exception is the United States, where EV sales are still struggling after the federal tax credit for buying an EV ended and federal auto policy shifted away from supporting electrification.

A notable trend is the rise of smaller, cheaper EVs. Models like China's Geely Xingyuan, BYD Seagull, and BYD Dolphin all posted strong months, often boosted by exports to countries including Brazil, Indonesia, and Australia. Toyota also had a strong showing: its RAV4 plug-in hybrid returned to the global top 20 after a redesign, and its BZ4X electric SUV posted the fastest sales growth among non-Chinese-made models. Tesla's Model Y remains the best-selling EV in the world, though deliveries dropped compared to last year.

None of this changes what's available to American buyers directly, since many of the fastest-growing models, especially the Chinese brands, aren't sold in the U.S. But it shows that electric vehicles are becoming mainstream and more affordable globally, even as U.S. policy has become less supportive. For homeowners weighing an EV alongside home upgrades like a heat pump or rooftop solar, it's a sign the broader electric vehicle market remains healthy, even if the U.S. picture looks shakier right now.