Data released on Wednesday by consultancy Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) indicates that global demand for electric vehicles rose for the second consecutive month in April, as persistently high gasoline prices continue to steer consumers away from traditional fuel-powered cars. BMI reported that new registrations for battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles—a key indicator of sales—increased by 6% year-over-year in April, reaching 1.6 million units, though this figure represents a 9% decline from the record high set in March. In a statement, BMI noted, "Demand continues to be supported by policy incentives, rising gasoline prices, and the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers." BMI data also shows that despite tariffs imposed by the European Union, the market share of Chinese brands in Europe is expanding: in the first four months of 2026, 22% of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids sold in Europe were manufactured in China, up from 19% in the same period the previous year.