The main reason is the rise in oil prices after the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran.
In the first half of 2026, the share of cars with petrol engines (excluding hybrids) for the first time dropped below 50% of global new car sales, reaching 49%. Over the year, sales of such cars decreased by 10% — to 20.25 million. As recently as 2021, their share was 73%, writes Nikkei.
The main reason is the rise in oil prices after the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran: petrol became more expensive, and fears arose about fuel supplies. In China, petrol car sales fell by 26%, in Europe by 13%.
Electric vehicles benefited most from this, as they are cheaper to maintain. Their sales increased by 12%, to 6.87 million, and their share reached 17%.
The picture varies by region. In China, where half of all electric vehicles are sold, sales decreased by 3% after tax incentives were reduced. In North America, they fell by 15% after subsidies were cancelled by the Trump administration. However, in Europe, growth was 32%, and electric vehicles there surpassed petrol cars for the first time in a half-year period.
In Southeast Asia, sales grew by 81%, in Oceania more than doubled.
Chinese manufacturers, such as BYD and Geely, account for about 60% of the global market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. In markets outside the US, Europe, and China, more than half of such cars are imported from China.
According to Mobility Global's forecast, by 2030, electric vehicles will account for over 30% of production and will become the dominant powertrain type. Analysts note that the pace of transition heavily depends on government policy. However, electric vehicle buyers rarely return to petrol cars, and as prices fall, demand will grow even without subsidies.
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То есть производители вынуждают покупателей переплачивать за гибридную установку, при этом ДВС в автомобиле остаётся.