Electrified vehicle sales reached new quarterly highs in 50 countries during the second quarter of 2026, as higher fuel prices linked to the US-Iran conflict encouraged consumers to reduce reliance on petrol and diesel. The trend matters because it has boosted EV and plug-in hybrid demand despite an overall downturn in global car sales and weaker US policy support for electric vehicles.

EV and PHEV sales rose 4% year-on-year and 35% from the previous quarter, and the IEA expects them to account for 29% of global car sales in 2026. UK battery-electric registrations increased 35% year-on-year, with BEVs and PHEVs making up 36% of registrations so far; China’s electric cars represented more than 45% of its car exports, although about one million EVs there are reportedly unsold.