Global vehicle registration figures for July showed that plug-in vehicles increased by 7% year-over-year (YoY), reaching approximately 1.8 million units. Analysis of the month’s data reveals contrasting performance dynamics between Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
Market Dynamics and Share Breakdown
BEVs continued to show strong growth, rising by 16% YoY. Conversely, PHEVs experienced a significant decline of 11% YoY, marking a continued period of poor performance for the model type since the start of the year. While the year-to-date (YTD) growth for plug-in vehicles remains low at 4% YoY, this figure is primarily depressed by the poor performance of PHEVs, which declined 11% YoY. BEVs, however, are showing signs of returning to normal growth patterns, posting a 12% YoY increase.
The shift in consumer preference is evident in the sales breakdown. In July, BEVs accounted for 71% of all plug-in sales, representing about 1.3 million units—a strong result for the category in recent years. This trend pushed the YTD mix to 71% for pure electrics versus 29% for PHEVs, marking the highest percentage for BEVs since 2022 (when the share was 72%).
When excluding the highly dynamic markets of China and the USA, the performance of pure electric vehicles was particularly robust, jumping 50% YoY globally in July, with BEVs surging 61% YoY. For the full month of July, BEVs held a 19% market share, contributing to a total plug-in share of 27% when PHEVs were included. Individually, BEVs constituted 17% of the market, while PHEVs accounted for 7% share. This marks a substantial increase from ten years ago, when the EV share was only around 1% (and 0.6% for BEVs).
Top Selling Models and Brand Performance
The sales rankings highlight several key trends, including the continued dominance of small electric vehicles.
The Tesla Model Y maintained its position as the top-selling vehicle in the month, despite reporting a 9% YoY decrease in deliveries. However, the Model 3 saw a significant drop of 44% YoY, selling 19,000 units and placing 11th, which is its lowest ranking since January 2018. Notably, the Xiaomi SU7 (ranking 8th with 21,000 units) outperformed the Model 3. Experts suggest that the Model 3’s decline may be linked to reduced unit availability, predicting a rebound in August and September.
The BYD Song secured the second spot, attributed to strong export efforts and the introduction of its new-generation Ultra body. Meanwhile, the Model 3’s slower month benefited several smaller electric models, which ranked third through seventh. These included the Geely Xingyuan (#3), the BYD Yuan Up (#4), the BYD Seagull (#5), the Leapmotor A10 (#6), and the BYD Dolphin (#7). This trend confirms the growing popularity of smaller EVs, signaling that the electric vehicle revolution is reaching a mass consumer base.
The Leapmotor A10 was highlighted for its rapid ascent, reaching 3rd place in China this month. With exports scheduled to begin shortly, the model is expected to become a top five contender globally. The BYD Dolphin also performed strongly, logging 26,000 registrations—its best result since last September. Significant volume contributions came from export markets, particularly Brazil (6,492 registrations) and South Korea (1,264 registrations).
Industry Market Shares and Competitor Shifts
In terms of overall OEM market performance, BYD maintained a stable lead with a 19.8% share. Geely improved its standing to 9.9%, gaining ground from Tesla. Tesla ended the month with an 8.3% share, marking a 0.6% loss in market share and placing it 6th—the first time it has fallen outside the top five manufacturers in nine years.
A significant shift occurred with Leapmotor, which rose to 4.1% share, surpassing Hyundai–Kia (also at 4.1%) and establishing itself as the new 6th placed OEM. Volkswagen Group remained stable in 4th place with a 7.2% share, while SAIC held steady at 5th place with a 6.3% share.
Focusing solely on BEVs, BYD held the top spot with a 14.8% share, followed by Tesla with 11.8% (a 0.8% drop). Geely secured 3rd place with an 8.7% share. The tightest competition was observed between 20th and 24th place, featuring the Leapmotor B10 (#20), the BYD Seal 06 (#21), the Geely EX5 (#22), the Toyota RAV4 PHEV (#23), and the VW ID.4 (#24), with registrations separated by less than 400 units.
Several legacy manufacturers also showed strength. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV recorded a record 12,236 registrations in July, securing a spot in the top 20. Furthermore, the Chery Jaecoo 5 registered 11,969 units, capitalizing on strong sales across international markets including Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the UK, and Israel.
Outlook and Future Prospects
Year-to-date, the Tesla Model Y leads the rankings, selling double the units compared to the BYD Song. While the Model 3 showed a temporary slump, the market remains highly competitive, particularly for the third-place spot, which the Geely Xingyuan currently holds. The global trend points toward a massive increase in the efficiency and mass availability of smaller, affordable electric models, suggesting that the electrification wave is expanding beyond premium markets.
Furthermore, Leapmotor’s consistent growth and expanding lineup of vehicles, including the B10 and C10, are positioning the startup as a major challenger in the industry, attracting attention from established global automakers.
