Almost 30 percent of all cars sold in 2026 are projected to be electric or plug-in hybrids, with the Iran war providing a potential impetus for the shift away from diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles.
That follows soaring growth last year, when electric car sales topped 20 million globally, up 20 percent from 2024, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest Global EV Outlook. About 23 million EVs are expected to be sold this year, a 15 percent jump.
“The growing popularity of EVs has marked a major shift for car markets and the energy system as a whole — and it is providing some relief now amid the largest oil supply shock in history,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement.
Last year, more than 100 countries saw record growth in electric car sales, with EVs accounting for at least 10 percent of sales in 40 nations. Then came the Iran war, which has caused gasoline and diesel prices to soar by disrupting about 20 percent of global oil supplies. That stands to juice the EV market even more, the IEA said. By 2035, it expects electric cars to account for half of global vehicle sales.
