2025 was a defining year for electric vehicles — with record sales, major new model launches, shifting strategies across legacy automakers, and breakthroughs in battery technology.
This was the year the “electric transition” moved from a luxury trend to a global mass-market reality. From the arrival of the long-awaited sub-$30,000 EVs to major shifts in international trade policy, 2025 was a rollercoaster for the industry.
Here’s a month-by-month look at the essential EV developments that shaped the global transition to electrified transportation.
January — Global EV Sales Surge to Start the Year
January 2025 kicked off with a strong surge in global EV sales, reaching about 1.3 million units — an 18% increase year-over-year, driven by continued adoption in Europe and China despite seasonal market shifts. Tax credit policy changes in the U.S. added uncertainty but did not significantly dampen growth this month. As stricter EU CO2 fleet emission targets officially took effect on January 1st, legacy automakers like Volkswagen and Stellantis flooded the market with new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) models to avoid heavy fines, leading to a 35% year-on-year increase in sales for the first quarter.
February — Continued Sales Momentum and Market Competition
February saw EV sales jump nearly 50% compared with a year earlier, reaching around 1.2 million EVs sold globally. China remained the dominant force in this growth, while Europe and other markets showed robust year-on-year increases. In February, industry data confirmed a historic shift: for the first time, one in every four cars sold globally was either a battery-electric or plug-in hybrid.
March: Solid-State Breakthroughs in China
March saw the first commercial-scale pilot lines for solid-state batteries begin operation in China. Leading manufacturers announced they had successfully halved the “derisked” manufacturing capacity gap, bringing the dream of 1,000km-range EVs one step closer to reality.
Despite tariff headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, global EV sales surged about 40% in March, with roughly 1.7 million vehicles sold, marking continued record breaking quarterly results for the EV industry.
April — New EVs and Industry Highlights at Auto Shows
The New York International Auto Show in April included notable EV reveals and previews from major brands, like new electric SUVs and refreshed models — signaling strong interest from legacy manufacturers in expanding EV lineups.
The new Kia EV4 made its North American debut, while Subaru of America revealed its newest model in the lineup and its second-ever all-electric SUV, the all-new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker.
May: Tesla’s “Juniper” Arrives
After years of speculation, May saw the official launch of the Tesla Model Y “Juniper” refresh. With a refined interior and an improved range of approximately 568 km (353 miles), the update helped Tesla maintain its lead in the SUV segment despite fierce competition from Chinese brands.
June: The €25k Price War
June was the month the “affordable EV” finally landed. Renault, BYD, and Citroën all launched models priced under €25,000 ($27,000).
July — EV Sales Continue to Climb, Charging Infrastructure Goes Ultra-Fast
In July, EV sales remained strong, with significant month-over-month gains and sustained demand across key brands like Tesla, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and others. Used EV sales also climbed, underscoring growing overall EV market maturity.
By July, the EU announced that 77% of its core highway network was now covered by ultra-fast charging stations. Meanwhile, the UK launched a £650 million grant scheme to accelerate the rollout of public chargers, specifically targeting “charging deserts” in rural areas.
August: The Rise of eREVs
August saw a significant trend shift toward Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (eREVs). Unlike traditional hybrids, these vehicles use a small gas engine only as a generator to charge the battery. They became the “bridge” of choice for drivers who weren’t yet ready to go fully electric.
August marked a milestone for several manufacturers moving into mass EV production — including Suzuki beginning production of its e-VITARA, its first global EV, aiming at export markets worldwide and reflecting broader shifts in Asia’s EV industry.
September: China’s 60% Dominance
September data revealed that EVs had captured a staggering 60% market share within China. The “Middle Kingdom” solidified its position as the global EV powerhouse, with brands like BYD now accounting for nearly 20% of all plug-in sales worldwide.
October: Used EV Prices Stabilize
For the first time since the 2023 price wars, the used EV market showed signs of stabilization in October. As more three-year-old leases returned to the market, the price gap between used EVs and used gas cars narrowed to less than $2,000, making second-hand electric cars a viable option for the average buyer.
In October, Stellantis unveiled its IBIS battery technology, a new integrated design aimed at lighter weight and faster charging — indicating where EV tech could head next and underscoring the industry’s ongoing focus on battery advancement.
November — Strong Growth in Europe, The Renault 5 E-Tech Sweeps Awards
BYD and other Chinese EV makers made notable inroads into Europe in November, with strong month-on-month sales increases and expanding footprint — a sign that global EV competition was intensifying beyond Tesla’s early dominance.
As the year wound down, the Renault 5 E-Tech dominated headlines, winning multiple “Car of the Year” awards. Its success proved that consumers were hungry for small, stylish, and efficient electric city cars rather than just massive, heavy SUVs.
December: The 20 Million Sales Record
The year closed on a high note, with total global EV sales for 2025 projected to exceed 20 million units. While some legacy brands scaled back their 2030 targets, the sheer volume of sales in 2025 proved that the “electric age” is no longer a future prediction—it is the present.
December rounded out the year with major strategic shifts by legacy manufacturers and market policy re-evaluations. Ford announced a pivot away from some all-electric products in favor of hybrids, incurring large costs and signaling automakers’ recalibrations in response to evolving consumer preferences.
Additionally, India reported EV registrations crossing two million vehicles during 2025, highlighting sustained adoption momentum in emerging markets.
What 2025 Tells Us About the Future of EVs
Even as the EV market grew significantly in 2025 — with global sales expected to top 20 million vehicles and represent roughly one in four cars sold worldwide — the landscape showed signs of evolution: new competitors challenging incumbents, continuous innovation in battery tech and charging infrastructure, and some legacy makers rebalancing strategies amid profitability pressures.
2025 proved that electrification is solidly mainstream, but success in the next decade will hinge on continued innovation, consumer affordability, and policy support that keeps momentum strong.
