In Q4 2025, global BEV sales crossed the four million milestone for the first time across all 40 analyzed markets – a 17% increase year-over-year. For the second consecutive quarter, BEVs accounted for over 20% of all vehicles sold globally. Looking at the full year, BEV sales surged 30% in 2025.
Given the sheer size of the market, BEV sales in China heavily influenced the positive global performance, increasing by 16% YoY in Q4 and 33% over the course of 2025 relative to the previous year. However, after several years of rapid growth, PHEV sales in China fell for the second successive quarter, down 12% YoY in Q4.
Europe’s BEV market also enjoyed strong growth. Combined sales in the top five European markets grew by 41% in Q4 2025 versus Q4 2024. The German BEV market continued its recent robust performance, with YoY growth of 56% in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Spain and Italy – markets that had been slow to embrace EVs – came alive in 2025, surging 77% and 44% respectively over the course of the year.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK
Sales in the top five European markets grew by 41% in the fourth quarter of 2025 in comparison with the same period in 2024. As a result, one in five vehicles (20%) sold in these markets in Q4 were BEVs, the highest recorded quarterly BEV market share for the region.
The German BEV market continued to enjoy strong growth, up by 56% YoY in the fourth quarter to reach a market share of 22%, the highest level for more than two years. French BEV sales followed a similar course, up by 49% in Q4 2025 vs. Q4 2024 to register a market share of 25%, by some distance the country’s highest ever BEV market share. The UK attained the same landmark, after posting a market share of 28% for the quarter.
PHEV sales in the top five markets increased by 40% YoY in Q4, boosted not least by growth of more than 100% in both Spain and Italy. France was the exception in the generally rosy PHEV picture, with sales declining YoY by 24% in Q4. In contrast to the growth in EV sales, ICE registrations fell by 18% in the top five markets combined in the fourth quarter relative to the same period in 2024.
Other European markets
Norway boasted the strongest BEV growth among the other European markets in Q4, up by 93% vs. Q4 2024. The BEV market share in Denmark (75%) and the Netherlands (53%) were also dominant.
Source: strategyand