The global electric vehicle (EV) market saw significant growth in May, with both battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) showing impressive sales numbers. According to the latest data from EV Volumes, BEV deliveries rose by 26.3% year on year, reaching 1,077,790 units. PHEV sales also saw a substantial increase of 42.7%, with 649,387 units delivered globally.
China continued to lead the global EV market in May, accounting for 59.5% of all-electric registrations and 72.1% of PHEV deliveries. The US followed behind with 8.8% of BEV and 4.7% of PHEV registrations, while Germany and the UK held the third and fourth positions, respectively.
In terms of top-selling BEV models, the Tesla Model Y took the lead in May with 77,622 units delivered globally. Other notable models included the Geely Geome Xingyuan and the BYD Seagull, which secured the second and third positions, respectively.
The BYD brand dominated the PHEV market, with models like the BYD Song Plus and BYD Song Pro leading the way. However, other manufacturers like Li Auto and Buick also made significant contributions to the global PHEV sales numbers.
Overall, Tesla maintained its lead in the global BEV market between January and May 2025, with the Model Y and Model 3 taking the top two positions in terms of registrations. BYD continued to dominate the PHEV market during the same period, with multiple models featuring in the top 10 rankings.
The global EV market showed stability and growth in both BEV and PHEV segments, with Chinese brands like BYD and Geely making significant contributions to the overall sales numbers. As the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, it will be interesting to see how different countries and manufacturers adapt to meet the evolving needs of consumers.
