Global EV growth hits the brakes: How automakers are diverging

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales have moved beyond the hypergrowth stage and entered a period of consolidation, with year-over-year growth slowing to just 2% in the first half of 2026 after gains of roughly 25% in both 2024 and 2025. Overseas expansion, new-model launches and product-mix strategies are emerging as three key factors determining automakers' performance.