Gasoline-only car sales fall below 50% of global market share

For the first time on record, gasoline-only vehicles accounted for less than half of global new car sales. According to data from Mobility Global, gasoline-only vehicles made up 49% of the market in the first half of 2026, a significant decline from 73% in 2021.

The shift is being driven by rising fuel prices linked to Middle East conflicts, which have pushed consumers toward lower running costs. While battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) saw a 12% growth to 17% of the market, conventional hybrids also saw significant movement, growing 10% to capture 18% of sales. Notably, hybrids outsold BEVs in the first half of the year.

Regional trends show gasoline-only sales dropped most sharply in China, down 26%, followed by Europe at 13%. In the United States, hybrid sales rose by 23% during the second quarter of 2026. Despite the decline in pure gasoline engines, approximately 83% of new vehicles sold globally still utilize an internal combustion engine through hybrid or plug-in hybrid configurations.