Which EV?

EV Sales Just Jumped 27% Globally — But the U.S. Is Lagging Behind

EV sales around the world are on fire. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, more than 10.7 million electric vehicles rolled off lots, marking a 27% jump over last year.

But before you picture the U.S. leading the charge… don’t. While China and Europe are zipping ahead, America’s sitting in the slow lane, fiddling with policy battles and clinging to gas pumps.

The receipts

According to data from Rho Motion, here’s the scoreboard for 2025 so far:

• Global: 10.7 million EVs, +27%
• China: 6.5 million, +29%
• Europe: 2.3 million, +30%
• North America: 1 million, +2% (yes, just 2%)
• Rest of world: 0.9 million, +42%

Translation: Everyone’s playing the EV game like it’s the World Cup. The U.S.? Still warming up on the sidelines.

Who’s hot right now

• Ford: After a messy 2024, Ford came roaring back in Europe with a 324% sales jump thanks to its Puma Gen-E, priced under £30K. That momentum is fueling Ford’s so-called “Model T Moment” in the U.S. with a new $5B plan to pump out affordable EVs here, including a new low cost pickup truck.
• VW & Porsche: Crushing it in the UK, with sales up 200%+.
• Renault, Peugeot, Mini: Making waves in Europe. Some don’t even sell EVs in the U.S. (yet), but their success is a preview of how legacy brands can pivot.
• Lagging behind: Honda, Mazda, Toyota — still clinging to ICE dominance while the market moves on.

What about Tesla?

Tesla’s still the global EV champ, but it’s a different game for legacy automakers. While Ford, VW, and Renault juggle decades of gas-powered baggage, Tesla’s always been EV-only. That makes today’s surge in legacy brands all the more impressive. It’s proof the big old dogs can learn new tricks — and thrive.

Why the U.S. is struggling

• Policy whiplash: One administration funds EV growth, the next tries to slam the brakes. Consumers? Confused. Automakers? Cautious.
• Culture wars: EVs have somehow become a political football.
• Short-term sugar rush: Expect a brief bump in U.S. sales before the IRA tax credit deadline this fall — then another dip.

Bottom line: America’s missing the bigger wave while Europe and China scale like crazy.

The big picture

Global momentum is crystal clear: EVs are mainstream now. They’re cheaper to own long-term, easier to build with new tech (hello, unicastings), and legacy brands are proving they can pivot fast when they commit.

Meanwhile, the U.S. risks losing its auto-industry dominance if it doesn’t get serious about electrification. Jobs, tech leadership, supply chains — they all go where the growth is. Right now, that’s not here.

So What?

• For drivers: Your EV choices will keep expanding, even if they land in Europe and China first. Pressure’s on U.S. automakers to catch up.
• For automakers: Adapt or get left behind. Ford’s Puma glow-up is proof that even struggling legacy brands can pivot if they commit.
• For the planet: A 27% global jump = fewer gas guzzlers, more emissions reductions, and momentum the U.S. can’t stop — even if politics try.

The takeaway: The EV revolution isn’t waiting. Globally, it’s already here. The only question left is whether the U.S. wants to lead it… or import it.

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