The global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle (EV and PHEV) market is seeing a big shift. Europe is driving almost all of the worldwide sales growth, while demand in North America and China is dropping.
In April, around 1.6 million plug-in vehicles were sold globally, according to Reuters. This is a 6% increase from last year.
Europe Leads the Charge
Europe is currently the strongest plug-in market. April sales reached over 400,000 units. While this was lower than in March, it was a 27% increase over April of last year.
According to CarScoops, a leading automotive platform, several European countries saw impressive growth. Italy nearly doubled its sales, France grew by 36%, and Germany increased by 33%.
Geopolitical tensions, such as the conflict in Iran, have also pushed more buyers toward electric options.
Chinese automakers are playing a big part in Europe’s EV boom. Despite facing tariffs, Chinese brands accounted for 22% of all plug-in cars sold in the region this year.
North America Hits a Speedbump
The situation is entirely different in North America. Total EV and PHEV sales have fallen 25% so far this year. The decline is even sharper in Mexico, where sales have plummeted by 50%.
In April, North American buyers purchased around 120,000 plug-in vehicles, a 28% decrease from last year. However, there is some hope for recovery. Experts believe Canada’s new Electric Vehicle Affordability Program could help boost the region’s sales through the rest of the year.
China Focuses on Exports
China is also seeing its domestic market slow down. Year-to-date sales have dropped 17% to roughly 2.8 million vehicles. This decline is mostly tied to recent subsidy cuts for smaller cars.
In April alone, Chinese buyers purchased about 850,000 EVs and PHEVs, an 8% drop from the previous year.
To offset declining local sales, Chinese car companies are aggressively exporting their vehicles abroad. Between January and April, China shipped 1.4 million plug-in cars overseas, more than double the number of exports during the same period last year.
Quick Look: April 2026 Sales by Region
| Region | Apr-26 | Y-o-Y | M-o-M | YTD | YTD-26 vs YTD-25 |
| China | 850,000 | -8% | -1.0% | 2.8 million | -17% |
| Europe | 400,000 | 27% | -24.0% | 1.6 million | 26% |
| North America | 120,000 | -28% | -9.0% | 450,000 | -25% |
| RoW | 240,000 | 110% | -4.0% | 840,000 | 89% |
| Global | 1.6 million | 6% | -9.0% | 6 Million | -0.20% |
The Boom of Electrified Driving in Pakistan
The electrified driving is booming in Pakistan, too, but in a hybrid form. Full EVs haven’t really taken off locally, but hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models are absolutely booming.
Every Chinese auto manufacturer in Pakistan nowadays has at least one hybrid or PHEV in its lineup, or one arriving very soon. It makes sense. They offer a practical way to cut down on fuel costs without the heavy range anxiety that comes with pure EVs.
The reality is that Pakistan’s EV charging infrastructure just isn’t there yet. And even when you do find a commercial charger, the per-unit electricity rates are so high that they wipe out any money you thought you were saving by ditching petrol.
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