LONDON, U.K.: Global electric vehicle sales surged to a record 2.1 million units in September, up 26 percent from a year earlier, as strong demand in China and a last-minute rush by U.S. buyers to claim tax credits powered another milestone for the fast-growing EV market, research firm Rho Motion said.

China, the world's largest auto market, accounted for roughly two-thirds of global sales, or about 1.3 million vehicles. North America and Europe also posted record highs, according to Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester.

"China remains the dominant driver of global EV growth," Lester said, noting that September is typically the country's busiest month for car buying. This year, demand was boosted further by shoppers trying to use up regional trade-in subsidies before they expired.

In the United States, sales jumped as buyers rushed to take advantage of the US$7,500 federal EV tax credit before it ended in late September. Rho Motion said U.S. demand is expected to drop sharply in the final quarter of the year as both consumers and businesses lose access to those incentives, which have been central to recent growth.

Europe also set a new record, thanks to incentives in Germany and solid demand in the United Kingdom. Tesla's rollout of a lower-cost Model Y in Europe is expected to intensify competition in the coming months.

Overall, global sales of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 2.1 million units. Chinese sales rose to about 1.3 million vehicles, while European sales climbed 36 percent to 427,541 units and North American sales grew 66 percent to about 215,000. In the rest of the world, sales jumped 48 percent to 153,594 vehicles.

"With the federal incentive gone, U.S. demand is expected to drop sharply in the final quarter of the year," Lester said. Automakers, including General Motors and Hyundai, are trying to soften the blow by offering discounts or relying on dealer inventories, though overall production is being scaled back.