Data released by market research firm RhoMotion on Tuesday showed that global sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 30.5% year-on-year to 1.69 million units in September, as sales in the Chinese market exceeded August's record numbers and Europe also returned to growth.
RhoMotion data shows that sales in the Chinese market jumped 47.9% in September to 1.12 million vehicles, while sales in the United States and Canada increased 4.3% to 150,000 vehicles.
Manager Charles Lester said sales in Europe rose 4.2% to 300,000 vehicles, thanks to a 24% rise in UK sales and higher sales in Italy, Germany and Denmark.
Lester said that in the Chinese market, the penetration of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is growing faster than some people expect, and "by the end of this year, sales may hit records every month."
He added that Germany's 7% annual growth rate was "definitely good news" and that the EU's medium-term carbon reduction targets for next year would test the EU market.
RhoMotion currently predicts that sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe will reach 3.78 million units in 2025 and 9.78 million units in 2030, which are 24% and 19% lower than the previous forecast respectively.