Data from TrendForce's latest electric vehicle industry study reveals that global sales of new energy vehicles, including pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reached 5.37 million units in the second quarter of 2026, marking a 10.4% increase compared to the same period last year. When hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are factored into the equation, these four vehicle categories collectively accounted for 33.2% of total global auto sales during the quarter, setting a new all-time high in market share.
The competitive landscape among brands underwent a notable reshuffling in the second quarter, driven by shifting sales volumes across regional markets. While China remains the world's largest single market for new energy vehicles, its share of global sales has contracted from 66% to 56% year-on-year, reflecting a slowdown in domestic demand growth. TrendForce notes that brands relying solely on the Chinese domestic market for growth are becoming increasingly rare, with overseas sales and delivery capabilities now serving as a critical benchmark for evaluating the core competitiveness of Chinese automakers.
Where the BEV Race Stands
Byd Company Limited (BYD) reclaimed the top spot in quarterly BEV sales, while Tesla Motors slipped to second place despite still achieving a 25% year-on-year increase in global deliveries. A significant development this quarter was Leapmotor climbing to third place in global BEV rankings for the first time, leveraging the production and sales resources of its major shareholder Stellantis in Europe to secure a competitive edge over other Chinese brands in overseas expansion. Meanwhile, Toyota secured seventh place with an impressive 143% year-on-year sales surge in the second quarter, capitalizing on its established global distribution network to roll out new models simultaneously across multiple countries and steadily improving its prior market performance. On the flip side, Volkswagen AG failed to crack the global top ten in BEV sales, underscoring the transitional challenges it currently faces in its electrification strategy.
Europe Emerges as a Key Battleground for Chinese PHEV Makers
In the PHEV segment, Byd Company Limited continued to dominate the market leader position, widening its market share gap over competitors during the second quarter. The race for second place and beyond remains intensely competitive, with market share differentials among rivals hovering at less than one percentage point. The combination of slowing domestic PHEV growth and European tariff policies has made Europe a strategically vital market for Chinese automakers. In the second quarter, Chinese brands—excluding Volvo Cars—captured nearly 30% of the Western European PHEV market, signaling a tangible shift in consumer acceptance and presenting European manufacturers with an unprecedented competitive challenge.