Global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) rose 29% year-over-year in April, according to recent data. Despite escalating trade tensions, strong growth in China and Europe helped sustain the market, while North America posted its first decline since September 2023.

Traditional automakers are accelerating efforts to meet the EU’s stringent CO₂ emissions targets, resulting in a surge in EV sales across Europe—surpassing even Tesla (TSLA.O) in unit sales.

According to Charles Lester, Data Manager at Rho Motion, Tesla continued to lose market share ahead of the refresh of its popular Model Y. Meanwhile, Chinese EV manufacturers increased their domestic sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and continued to meet rising overseas demand for plug-in hybrids.

Global automakers are facing a 25% import tariff in the United States—the world’s second-largest car market—prompting many to withdraw or revise their 2025 forecasts. Former President Donald Trump’s stance on emissions standards, combined with uncertainty surrounding tariffs, has further hindered EV market growth in North America.

Lester noted that recent agreements between the UK and China have had only a marginal impact on EV sales but signaled a positive shift for the industry ahead of potential negotiations involving South Korea, Japan, and the European Union.

By the Numbers

According to Rho Motion:

·Global EV and PHEV sales in April reached 1.5 million units.

·China recorded a 32% year-over-year increase, totaling 900,000 units.

·Europe saw a 35% rise, with 300,000 units registered.

·North America experienced a 5.6% decline, with 100,000 units registered.

·In other global markets, sales surged by 50%.

"Year-to-date, plug-in hybrid sales in other regions have nearly doubled, largely driven by Chinese exports," Lester stated.

Governments around the world are actively promoting EV adoption through policy incentives. However, rising trade tensions and a slowdown in key markets could signal upcoming factory closures and job losses.

In January 2024, China extended its EV trade-in subsidy program through 2025, as part of a broader effort to support vehicle turnover, sustain EV market momentum, and drive economic recovery.

Identifying Profitable Markets with Tendata's Intelligence Platform

Using Tendata’s powerful analytics tools to uncover profitable opportunities in the global electric vehicle trade. Follow these strategic steps to identify and capture the most lucrative export markets for EV products:

Filter EV import and export data by price to refine your target list.

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For example, the following are the top EV import buyers from January to April 2025: >> See the Full List of Electric Vehicle Buyers

1.BUILD YOUR DREAMS BUSSES MEXICO S DE RL DE CV(32.27%, $296.43 Million)

2.MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA LTD(22.86%, $209.99 Million)

3.BAJAJ AUTO LIMITED(7.64%, $70.14 Million)

4.BYD PHILIPPINES CORP(3.42%, $31.37 Million)

5.MITSUBISHI MOTORS(2.52%, $23.17 Million)

6.TESLA MOTORS PHILIPPINES(2.39%, $21.92 Million)

7.MAHINDRA LAST MILE MOBILITY LIMITED(2.18%, $19.98 Million)

8.BYD UZBEKISTAN FACTORY MAS ULIYATI CHEKLANGAN JAMIYATI(1.61%, $14.76 Million)

9.TESLA AUTOMOBILES SALES AND SERVICE MEXICO(1.42%, $13.03 Million)

10.TRONTEK ELECTRONICS PRIVATE LIMITED(1.22%, $11.24 Million)

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