Global electric-vehicle demand increased for a fifth straight month in July, with stronger European sales more than offsetting declines in China and North America. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said combined battery-electric and plug-in hybrid sales rose 9% from a year earlier to 1.85 million units, taking year-to-date volumes to 11.5 million vehicles. Europe was the main growth engine, with sales climbing 33% to 450,000 units as subsidy schemes returned across several large markets over the past 18 months. France, Germany and Britain recorded July growth of 81%, 46% and 43%, respectively. By contrast, China sales fell 5% to 980,000 vehicles, North America sales dropped 27% to 140,000 vehicles after the end of U.S. EV tax credits, and the rest of the world jumped 97% to 280,000 units. The figures highlight a widening split across major EV markets, with European subsidies supporting demand, the U.S. market pressured by the removal of federal tax credits, and Chinese automakers increasingly relying on exports for growth.