Global Electric Vehicle Sales Forecast to Reach 23 Million Units in 2026

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts global electric vehicle sales to reach 23 million units in 2026. This figure accounts for around 28% of global car sales, meaning nearly one in three new cars sold in 2026 will be electric. According to the Global EV Outlook 2026 report released on 20 May 2026, vehicle electrification trends continue to grow despite the global economy not fully stabilising. In 2025, global electric vehicle sales reached 20 million units, a 20% increase from the previous year. This means one in four new cars sold worldwide now uses electrification technology. The IEA notes that around 40 countries now have electric vehicles accounting for over 10% of total new vehicle sales. This indicates the automotive industry’s transformation towards electrification is accelerating. Europe is one of the regions with the most aggressive growth. In 2025, electric vehicle sales in the region rose over 30% to 4.2 million units, representing around 28% of the total new vehicle market. The rise has been driven by stricter EU carbon emission regulations, government policy support, and growing consumer interest in eco-friendly vehicles. This year, the IEA predicts one in three new cars in Europe will be electric. Local manufacturers such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra dominate India’s electric vehicle market with a 60% share. Meanwhile, Africa’s electric vehicle market remains relatively small but is showing consistent growth. EV sales rose from around 4,000 units in 2023 to nearly 25,000 in 2025. Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa are the largest contributors to EV sales in the region. Other countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Nigeria are also beginning to expand EV adoption. The IEA report also highlights China’s dominance in the global electric vehicle industry. Chinese manufacturers supply nearly 60% of the world’s electric vehicles, while those from Europe and North America each contribute around 15%. Despite positive long-term prospects, global electric vehicle sales experienced a slowdown in the first quarter of 2026, with EV sales dropping around 8% to 3.9 million units compared to the same period last year. The decline was primarily due to weakening demand in China and the United States, whereas Europe and several developing Asian countries still recorded positive growth. Throughout 2025, nearly 1.8 million new public charging points were built worldwide, taking the global total of electric vehicle charging stations above seven million.