The global electric vehicle market is showing stark regional differences. Europe posted a record sales volume in September, while North America and China recorded double-digit declines. Analysts say North America’s sharp drop was influenced by a base effect after the end of a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit.

Electrek reported on Oct. 15 that market research firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) said Europe’s electric vehicle sales last month rose 39 percent from a year earlier to about 600,000 units. That was also 10 percent higher than the previous record set in June.

Europe’s growth was led by battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). BEV sales rose 50 percent from a year earlier, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) increased 16 percent.

By country, France rose 78 percent to about 80,000 units and Germany climbed 61 percent to 117,000 units. Britain, France, Spain, Portugal and Finland set monthly sales records.

North America, by contrast, fell 44 percent from a year earlier to about 130,000 units. It was the biggest decline so far this year. The impact was driven in large part by last September’s surge in buying demand ahead of the end of a $7,500 (10,089,750 won) U.S. electric vehicle tax credit.

Charles Lester (찰스 레스터), a data manager at BMI, said performance at the end of this year would improve versus a year earlier when compared with the period of a sharp drop in sales in the fourth quarter of last year. He also said an improvement in the statistics does not mean a recovery in actual demand.

China also underperformed. September sales fell 18 percent from a year earlier to 1.11 million units. Cumulative sales from January to September also fell 13 percent to 8.1 million units. Chinese automakers are expanding exports overseas. By contrast, other regions excluding China, Europe and North America surged 81 percent in September to 310,000 units.

Global electric vehicle sales in September fell 2 percent from a year earlier to 2.15 million units. Cumulative sales this year rose 3 percent to 15.5 million units.

The growth engine of the electric vehicle market appears to be shifting from a focus on North America and China to Europe and emerging markets.