WASHINGTON : According to data released by consultancy firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, global registrations of electric vehicles rose by six percent year-on-year in November to just under two million units. The slowdown comes as North America heads towards its first annual decline in EV registrations since 2019, following the end of a US program that provided credit incentives for EV purchases.
In China, the world’s largest car market accounting for more than half of global EV sales, registrations increased by three percent to over 1.3 million units. This marked the lowest year-on-year growth rate since February 2024. Analysts expect consumer sentiment to be affected further as government subsidies are reduced towards the end of the year.
The situation in the United States was more pronounced, with registrations plunging 42 percent in November to just over 100,000 vehicles, following a similar drop in October. Overall, US EV registrations are down one percent so far this year. Adding to concerns for the sector, US President Donald Trump last week proposed lowering fuel economy standards introduced by his predecessor, a move seen as undermining the transition to electric vehicles.
In contrast, Europe continued to show strong growth. EV registrations across the region rose by 36 percent to more than 400,000 units, supported by national incentive programs. Registrations in the rest of the world also climbed 35 percent to around 160,000 vehicles.
While electric transport advocates stress that a rapid shift to EVs is essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions, slower-than-expected adoption has led some governments and automakers to reconsider green commitments.
Electric vehicle sales globally rose by just 6% in November, with the US experiencing a significant 42% drop in registrations. The decline follows the end of credit incentives and proposed changes to fuel standards. Meanwhile, Europe saw a robust 36% increase, highlighting regional disparities in EV adoption.