MUNICH (dpa)

Global sales of electric cars are picking up speed again, driven by strong growth in China and renewed momentum in Europe, according to a new analysis by consulting firm PwC.

In the first half of the year, more than 5.9 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered worldwide, a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2024. For comparison, full-year sales in 2024 had only grown by around 14%.

China remains the dominant force in the market, accounting for more than 3.7 million of the new BEVs, a 47% jump year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Europe also saw a "renaissance" in electric vehicle uptake, with 1.2 million BEVs sold in the region, a 25% rise and a new record for the first half of any year, according to PwC. Analysts say tightening CO2 fleet limits likely contributed to the surge.

Still, Europe is gradually losing ground as a global electric vehicle market due to faster growth elsewhere, particularly in China. PwC noted a 32% drop in BEV sales by German manufacturers in China, but the carmakers made significant gains across Europe during the same period.

Sluggish US Growth

The United States remains the third-largest electric car market behind China and Europe, but growth there continues to lag.

Just 592,000 new BEVs were registered in the US in the first half, a 7% increase compared to the year before.

Germany has reclaimed third place globally, with 249,000 new BEV registrations, ahead of the United Kingdom, which follows with 225,000.