Global gasoline car sales fall below 50% market share in 2026

electric vehicle sales automotive market trends gasoline vehicle decline BEV market share mobility transition

Global automotive sales reached a historic turning point in the first half of 2026, as gasoline-only vehicle sales fell below 50% of the total market share for the first time. According to data from Mobility Global, gasoline-only models accounted for 49% of new car sales, a significant drop from 73% in 2021. These sales fell by 10% year-on-year to 20.25 million units.

Electrified vehicles are driving this shift. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reached a 17% global market share, while conventional hybrids grew to 18%. Regional trends vary: China saw a 26% decline in gasoline-only sales, whereas Europe experienced a 32% increase in BEV sales. In Portugal, electrified vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) represented nearly 40% of new registrations, outperforming several larger European neighbors.

In Europe, the transition is being supported by an expanding range of affordable models. Transport & Environment (T&E) reports that sales of electric vehicles priced under €25,000 are expected to be seven times higher in 2026 than in 2024. Additionally, geopolitical energy shocks and rising fuel prices have increased consumer interest in the lower operating costs of electric mobility.

Entities

China · Europe · International Energy Agency · Mobility Global · Nikkei Asia · Portugal · Transport & Environment

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales reached 17% of the global new car market share in the first half of 2026. www.ithome.com · www.connect.ro · pplware.sapo.pt · www.upday.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Surging fuel prices caused by Middle East conflicts accelerated the shift toward electric vehicles. www.ithome.com · oilprice.com · www.connect.ro · www.upday.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Gasoline-only vehicle sales accounted for 49% of global new car sales in the first half of 2026. www.ithome.com · oilprice.com · www.connect.ro · pplware.sapo.pt · www.upday.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The overall global car market shrank by approximately 5% in the first half of 2026.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Chinese brands account for 60% of total global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales. www.ithome.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Sales of gasoline-only vehicles fell 10% year-on-year to 20.25 million units in the first half of 2026. www.ithome.com · oilprice.com · www.connect.ro · pplware.sapo.pt · www.upday.com
[DISPUTED] European BEV sales increased by 32% to 1.81 million units in the first half of 2026. www.ithome.com · www.connect.ro
[● 4 SOURCES] Gasoline-only car sales in China declined by 26% in the first half of 2026. www.ithome.com · www.connect.ro · pplware.sapo.pt
[DISPUTED] In the European Union, BEV sales increased by 45% in the first eight months of 2026 compared to the previous year. www.canaleenergia.com · thedriven.io
[● 2 SOURCES] Sales of electric vehicles priced below €25,000 in Europe are expected to be seven times higher in 2026 than in 2024. www.canaleenergia.com · thedriven.io
[● 2 SOURCES] In Portugal, electrified vehicles (BEV and PHEV) accounted for 39.64% of new registrations in the first half of 2026. fleetmagazine.pt · www.leak.pt