Gasoline car sales fall below 50% of global market for first time

In H1 2026, gasoline-only vehicles fell to 49% of global new car sales, down from 73% in 2021, as high oil prices from Middle East conflicts accelerated EV adoption. This marks a structural shift in energy demand, with implications for oil consumption and electricity demand. The trend is confirmed by sales data, though the exact split between hybrids and pure EVs is not specified.