Key facts
- IEA states more than 20 million electric cars were sold globally in 2025, about one-quarter of new cars.
- IEA projects around 23 million electric car sales in 2026; the figure is a forecast, not a verified year-end result.
- IEA electric car figures in the cited charts include both BEVs and plug-in hybrids.
Quick answer: The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported more than 20 million electric car sales worldwide in 2025, representing about one in four new cars. In its Global EV Outlook 2026, published on May 20, 2026, the IEA projected approximately 23 million electric car sales in 2026, or about 28% of all new car sales. That second number is a forecast, not a final 2026 total.
There is a complication that headlines often omit: the IEA also estimated that sales in the first quarter of 2026 fell around 8% year over year to about 3.9 million. The record 2025 full year, the early-2026 dip and a forecast of 2026 growth are not logically inconsistent. They describe different measurement periods and reflect sharply different national markets. This guide separates those facts rather than converting projections into confirmed results.
Three different figures, three different questions
| Metric | IEA figure | Correct interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide electric car sales in 2025 | More than 20 million; roughly 25% of new car sales | Historical annual outcome |
| Worldwide electric car sales, Q1 2026 | About 3.9 million, down roughly 8% from Q1 2025 | Preliminary first-quarter comparison, not the full year |
| Worldwide electric car sales forecast, 2026 | About 23 million; around 28% of new car sales | IEA estimate for the full year, subject to change |
Source: IEA, Global EV Outlook 2026, Executive Summary. Readers should not treat the forecast row as verified sales achieved as of November 2026.
What counts as an ‘electric car’ in these IEA numbers?
The IEA’s chart notes define electric cars here to include both battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Therefore, the frequently cited 25% worldwide new-car sales share is not a claim that 25% of all new cars sold globally in 2025 were fully battery-electric.
The agency says BEVs accounted for around 65% of electric car sales in 2025. If you are comparing these figures with battery-only registration data, national plug-in hybrid statistics or the stock of vehicles already on roads, you must first align the vehicle definition and the period.
Definitions matter for long-term data as well. Sales share is the share of new sales in a year; vehicle stock is the cars already in use. A country can have a high EV share among new sales while most of its current fleet still consists of older combustion-engine vehicles.
Where did EV sales grow in 2025?
| Market | Reported outcome | A common mistaken reading |
|---|---|---|
| China | Nearly 55% of new car sales were electric | This is not 55% of the entire car fleet |
| Europe | Electric car sales rose by more than 30% to a 28% share of new cars | Growth rate and sales share are different metrics |
| United States | Electric car share remained just under 10% of new sales | It is not the same as the European or Chinese share |
| Southeast Asia | Sales more than doubled, and the share approached 20% | Regional averages mask national differences |
| Latin America | Sales increased by around 75% | This is a change in volume, not a 75% EV market share |
These rounded indicators come from the IEA’s executive summary and Trends in Electric Cars chapter. They are presented in one table for readers to compare the meaning of each statistic, not as a ranking of countries.
Why did first-quarter 2026 sales decline globally?
The IEA attributes the roughly 8% global first-quarter decline primarily to lower sales in China and the United States following key policy changes. At the same time, it reported very different movements elsewhere: European electric car sales grew close to 30% year over year in that quarter; Asia-Pacific markets excluding China grew around 80%; and Latin America grew around 75%.
This is why a global sales chart should not be read as a description of the consumer experience in each country. One large market can move the worldwide total even while other regions expand. The IEA reported that March 2026 saw record monthly EV sales in about 30 countries, while roughly 60 other countries had year-over-year increases.
For a country-level illustration, Türkiye’s electric car sales more than doubled in 2025 to reach nearly 240,000, according to the IEA, making it the fourth-largest electric car market in Europe by sales volume that year. The country also experienced changes in vehicle taxation, so a driver should not apply an old purchase-tax schedule to a present-day transaction. Read our Turkey EV coverage and EV charging and travel guidance in Turkey for a practical travel-related follow-up.
What can be inferred from the 2026 forecast?
The IEA’s base outlook projected around 23 million worldwide EV car sales in 2026, equivalent to 28% of new car sales. It projected China approaching a 60% electric-car sales share and Europe around one in three new cars. These are projections shaped by policies, pricing, model availability and macroeconomic conditions. They are not a government registration count for every country, nor guaranteed outcomes.
The report flags the energy crisis and oil-market conditions as possible drivers of consumer choices, but it also notes that the market response may arrive with delays because vehicle orders, production and deliveries take time. A reader should update any forecast after a new IEA release or an official registration series becomes available.
Why more EV models do not automatically mean equally distributed sales
The IEA counted approximately 630 battery-electric car models globally in 2025. Yet, it reports that five models accounted for about 20% of global BEV sales. These statements can both be correct: the number of available products does not measure how evenly consumers distribute their purchases.
One practical consequence for market analysis is that a newly announced model should not be called a global sales success solely because it appears in a catalogue. Sales, deliveries, homologation and geographic availability need to be verified separately. For a model-specific example grounded in government efficiency figures, see our new-model range comparisons and the new EV models section.
How to check an EV market statistic before sharing it
- Check the date: is the number for a month, quarter, calendar year or model year?
- Check the powertrain: are the figures for BEVs only, BEVs plus PHEVs or a broader category?
- Check the denominator: sales share of all new cars is not the same as growth in unit sales.
- Check the geography: Europe, the European Union and individual national markets are not interchangeable.
- Check whether it is a forecast: the words ‘expected’, ‘projected’ or ‘estimated’ should remain attached to a future-year figure.
- Check the revision history: national registration databases and reports are periodically updated.
For datasets, the IEA provides the Global EV Data Explorer, while the full Global EV Outlook 2026 explains the methodology and interpretation of its chapters. Links may move as the IEA updates its public tools.
Frequently asked questions about global EV sales
Did 25% of all cars on the road become electric in 2025?
No. The one-in-four figure refers to the electric share of new car sales in 2025, not the world’s entire vehicle fleet.
Are all IEA electric cars battery-only?
No. In this report’s electric car sales charts, BEVs and plug-in hybrids are included. Battery-only cars are a subset.
Why can Q1 sales fall while full-year growth is forecast?
The first-quarter observation and full-year projection cover different periods. Stronger projected sales in later quarters, different national market trends and policy timing can produce different results. A projection remains uncertain until full-year data are available.
Was the forecast already confirmed in November 2026?
No. The 23-million figure is the IEA outlook published in May 2026. This article does not convert it into a verified 2026 final sales total.
Which market had the largest share of new-car EV sales?
In 2025 Norway had an electric share of around 97% of new car sales according to the IEA. China was by far the largest national market by electric car unit sales, which is a different measure.
Where can I compare updated data?
Use the IEA’s full report and data explorer, checking definitions and data-release dates. For more reporting, see our world EV news and electric vehicle guides.
Sources and editorial scope
Primary source: IEA, Global EV Outlook 2026, Executive Summary (May 20, 2026). Further checks: Trends in Electric Cars and full report. This is an original explanation of official findings, not a reproduction of the report or an assertion that its forecasts were achieved. Reviewed November 11, 2026.
