Although down from December last year, in January 2025 1.3 million EVs were sold around the world, up 18% on the same month in 2024

Electric vehicle (EV) market research company Rho Motion has published figures showing all regions of the world registered increased plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) and battery EV (BEV) sales in January 2025, compared to the same month a year before.

Globally, Rho Motion counted 1.3 million EV sales in January. This is up 18 per cent on the month of January 2024, but not a patch on the record breaking November and December 2024 sales numbers.

European Union and European Free Trade Area sales rose 21 per cent or 250,000, and the United States and Canada increased their EV purchase numbers by 22 per cent, or 130,000.

China, which is a top EV market, also saw sales increase, by 12 per cent in January 2025 compared to the same month a year prior. However, compared to December, sales dropped by 43 per cent.

This is to be expected, Rho Motion said, as the two opening months of the year are typically the weakest due to the Chinese New Year. February EV and total vehicles sales are expected to be low as well. Instead, Chinese vehicle buyers go all-in towards the end of the year.

Source: Rho Motion

Rho Motion noted the change of president in the United States has not impacted the North American market. The company's data manager Charles Lester noted emission standards are coming into force for European manufacturers in 2025, with the region showing encouraging growth.

European manufacturers that don't comply with the new emission standards face tough fines.

Germany saw overall EV sales increase 40 per cent year on year, and BEV sales by 50 per cent. In France the market fell 52 per cent in January, due to pre-buying the month before, as the country introduced a weight tax on PHEVs starting this month.