From EVwire · Simon Alvarez · · 1m 30s
Gas cars drop below 50% of global new car sales
Gas cars hit 49% of global new car sales for the first time since 1920s.
In brief
Gas cars hit 49% of global new car sales for the first time since 1920s. Gas cars dropped below 50% of global new car sales for the first time in 2026, with battery electric vehicles climbing to 17%. Originally reported by EVwire.
Gas cars drop below 50% of global new car sales
Gas cars made up less than half of global new-vehicle sales in the first half of 2026, the first time since cars went mainstream in the 1920s.
Global gas car sales fall 10% year-over-year
From January to June, gas-engine vehicle sales fell 10% year-over-year to 20.25 million units, reducing their global share to 49%.
EV sales climb to 17% of global market
Battery electric vehicle sales rose 12% to 6.87 million units, lifting their share to 17%.
Hybrids grow with 10% increase
Hybrid vehicle sales increased 10% to 7.27 million units, accounting for 18% of the global market.
Yoshiaki Kawano on EV costs
Mobility Global associate director Yoshiaki Kawano said higher oil prices have renewed appreciation for EVs' lower operating costs.
“EV adoption slowed (around 2024) and hybrids grew due to subsidy cuts and other factors, but higher oil prices have renewed appreciation for EVs' lower operating costs, and sales are now growing again.”
Europe leads EV growth
Europe saw EV sales rise 32% to 1.81 million units, outselling gas cars for the first time across 31 major European countries.
EV sales surge in Southeast Asia and Oceania
EV sales in Southeast Asia jumped 81% to 350,000 units, while Oceania more than doubled to 110,000 units.
The big picture
Gas cars dropped below 50% of global new car sales for the first time in 2026, with battery electric vehicles climbing to 17%.
