Gasoline cars fell to 49% of global new-car sales in the first half of 2026, the first time below half, while EV sales rose 12% — a symbolic tipping point for the century-old combustion-engine era.
Gasoline cars fell to 49% of global new-car sales in the first half of 2026, the first time below half, while EV sales rose 12% — a symbolic tipping point for the century-old combustion-engine era.
Per Mobility Global data reported by Nikkei, combustion-only car sales worldwide totalled 20.25 million units from January through June, down 10% year on year; the figure excludes hybrids. The share has fallen 24 percentage points in five years, from 73% in 2021.
Analysts link the shift to higher oil prices amid Middle East instability; combustion-car sales fell 26% in China and 13% in Europe.
EV sales reached 6.87 million units, lifting their share to 17% from 14% a year earlier, while hybrids rose 10% to 7.27 million units, or 18% of the market; North American EV sales dropped 15% after Trump revoked preferential measures.
The era of electric cars is firmly in place, and it can only be expected to grow deeper, wider and stronger the longer the oil stays at formidable price ponts.