Global demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continued to grow in April, marking the second consecutive month of increases as higher petrol prices encouraged more consumers to shift away from conventional combustion-engine vehicles.
According to data from consultancy Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), registrations of new battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles rose 6 percent year-on-year to 1.6 million units in April.
The figures, which serve as a proxy for global EV sales, were, however, down 9 percent compared to March’s record monthly high.
BMI said continued policy support, rising fuel prices, and expanding international presence of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers helped sustain global demand growth.
“Demand continues to be supported by policy incentives, rising petrol prices, and growing Chinese OEM presence,” BMI said in a statement carried by Reuters.
Europe recorded one of the strongest performances during the month, with EV registrations rising 27 percent year-on-year to approximately 400,000 units in April.
The growth comes as countries across the European Economic Area and Switzerland continue to invest heavily in EV infrastructure and supply chains, with recent studies estimating nearly €200 billion in commitments to the region’s electric mobility ecosystem.
However, demand trends varied significantly across major markets.
In China, EV registrations declined 8 percent year-on-year to around 850,000 vehicles following the withdrawal of government support measures for vehicle trade-ins and the expiration of tax incentives for EV purchases.
Meanwhile, the United States and broader North American markets saw registrations fall 28 percent to 120,000 units in April after the end of a US federal EV tax credit program and proposals by President Donald Trump’s administration to ease carbon dioxide emissions rules.
Within the region, Mexico emerged as a notable growth market, with EV sales rising nearly 50 percent so far this year. Canada, which recorded a 7 percent decline, is expected to recover following the introduction of new incentive programs.
The latest data reflects the evolving global EV market, where government policies, fuel prices and regulatory support continue playing a major role in shaping consumer demand and adoption trends.
With inputs from WAM
