New York: Electric vehicle (EV) sales globally increased by 29% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 to 4.1 million, according to a report by market research firm Rho Motion on Tuesday. In this period, 2.4 million sales were recorded in China, 900,000 in Europe, 500,000 in North America, and 300,000 in other parts of the world.

According to Anadolu Agency, China accounted for 58.5% of total EV sales, with sales in the country rising by 36% year-on-year in the first quarter. Nearly 1 million EVs were sold in China in March alone. The market research firm noted that ongoing tariffs between China and the US would have a limited impact on EV sales, given the small number of EV sales between the two countries. It was highlighted that the Model S and Model X from Tesla are exported from the US to China in low volumes, and the current tariffs could nearly double the price of these vehicles.

In North America, encompassing the US, Canada, and Mexico, EV sales increased by 16% during the same period. Notably, 60% of the EVs sold in the US in 2024 were domestically produced, with the majority of the remainder coming from Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.

Europe's EV market grew by 27% year-on-year in the first quarter, with several countries experiencing strong sales increases. Germany saw a 37% rise in battery EV sales, Italy 64%, and the UK 42%. In the UK, a monthly sales record was set in March with over 100,000 EVs sold. Conversely, France experienced an 18% decline in sales over the same period, attributed to a reduction in incentives for EVs.