Latin America electric vehicle fleet tops 837,000 as new hybrid models launch in Europe

The Latin America and Caribbean region recorded 837,014 electric and plug‑in hybrid light vehicles in use during the first quarter of 2026, with sales of 106,765 units in the period. Brazil leads with 473,362 vehicles, accounting for more than half of the regional total, while Uruguay ranks first in per‑capita adoption. Public transport electrification continues, with 9,718 electric buses operating region‑wide, 4,707 of them in Chile, the second‑largest fleet globally after China. The sector is projected to surpass one million electric vehicles by the end of 2026. OLACDE estimates annual fuel‑cost savings of US$1.157 billion and avoided consumption of about 890 million litres of gasoline and 340 million litres of diesel. In Uruguay, electric‑vehicle market share reached 41 % for battery‑only models and over 44 % when plug‑in hybrids are included, with BYD leading sales. The country’s high gasoline prices, renewable‑heavy electricity grid and expanding charging network have driven rapid adoption, while sales of combustion‑engine cars fell 15 %. European manufacturers are expanding their hybrid and electric offerings. Chery’s Omoda 5 SHS hybrid SUV entered Spain as the brand’s first non‑plug‑in hybrid, delivering 5.3 L/100 km fuel consumption, 224 hp and a price starting at €349 per month under the new OJ Renting flexible leasing scheme. Dongfeng introduced the Mage PHEV in Spain, priced at €31,990, offering 300 hp, a total range of over 1,000 km and up to 81 km on electric power alone. The 2026 Ecomotion by Ayvens competition in Spain awarded the CUPRA Tavascan VZ (pure electric) for a 23.7 % WLTP‑consumption reduction, the BYD Atto 2 DM‑i Boost (plug‑in hybrid) for the best combined energy use, and the Jeep Compass Altitude (HEV/MHEV) for a 24.5 % improvement.