According to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), cited by CLS, global registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) rose 6% year-on-year to 1.6 million units in April 2026. Although registrations declined 9% compared with March, overall EV demand remained at elevated levels for a second consecutive month. Combined with roughly 4 million units recorded in the first quarter, cumulative global EV registrations reached 5.6 million units during the first four months of 2026. The latest growth cycle was partly driven by sustained increases in international crude oil prices after conflict in the Middle East disrupted a key global oil shipping route. BMI said policy incentives, rising fuel costs and the expanding global influence of Chinese automakers remain the key drivers behind current EV market growth. Chinese EVs displayed at Beijing Auto Show 2026 By region, China continued to dominate as the world’s largest EV market. In April, China recorded around 850,000 new energy vehicle registrations, accounting for 53% of the global total. However, China’s market declined 8% year-on-year due to the gradual reduction of vehicle replacement subsidies and the phased expiration of purchase tax incentives. At the same time, Chinese automakers continued accelerating overseas expansion. China’s EV exports exceeded 400,000 units in April alone, while the country’s total EV exports during the first four months of 2026 approached 1.4 million units, more than doubling from a year earlier. Europe showed particularly strong momentum, with EV registrations surging 27% year-on-year to 400,000 units in April. Meanwhile, countries within the European Economic Area and Switzerland have pledged nearly €200 billion ($234 billion) toward EV-related industrial chains and infrastructure construction. Chinese EV brands also continued gaining share in Europe. BMI data showed that 22% of BEVs and PHEVs sold in Europe during the first four months of 2026 were manufactured in China, up from 19% in the same period last year. Leapmotor B10 in Italy In contrast, the North American market showed clear signs of slowing. EV registrations in the region fell 28% year-on-year to just 120,000 units in April. The decline was attributed partly to the expiration of U.S. tax incentives, as well as recent proposals from the Trump administration to further relax carbon emissions regulations, reducing pressure on automakers to accelerate electrification efforts. However, the North American market also showed diverging trends internally. Mexico’s EV sales have risen nearly 50% so far this year. By comparison, Canada’s market declined 7% in the short term, though a new round of government incentives could support a recovery later on.
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