Petrol-Only Cars Fall Below Half of Global Sales

Petrol-only cars account for less than half of global new vehicle sales for the first time, marking a major milestone in the worldwide shift towards electric and hybrid mobility.

Electric vehicle adoption is accelerating across international markets as rising fuel prices encourage more drivers to switch to cleaner alternatives. The International Energy Agency reports that global electric vehicle sales rose by 35% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first, reaching record levels in 50 countries.

In the first half of 2026, petrol-only vehicle sales fell 10% to 20.25 million, reducing their global market share to 49%. In Europe, battery-electric vehicle sales surged by 52.2% year-on-year in August, including increases of 75% in Germany and more than 100% in France. Electric car sales also roughly doubled in major markets such as Brazil, India, Australia and Vietnam between March and June. Overall, 90 countries recorded annual growth in electric vehicle sales during the first six months of the year, highlighting the expanding global transition towards electric mobility.