Economists and experts warn that proposed EV policy moves in Malaysia, including a potential sales levy and changes to import tax exemptions, could raise costs and weaken the nation's appeal as a manufacturing hub as charging infrastructure lags behind targets.
Australian motorists are buying electric and hybrid vehicles at the same rate as petrol cars, with EV sales doubling in Q2 2026, as fuel prices are set to rise again with the end of the federal government's excise reduction.
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. sold 131,032 electric vehicles in Europe in H1 2026, a 41.8% increase, led by Kia's EV3. The automakers anticipate surpassing 200,000 annual EV sales, expanding their lineup amid strong regional demand.
Australia saw its largest quarterly surge in electric vehicle sales, with new EV purchases doubling in Q2 and nearly half of all new vehicles being electric or hybrid. This growth coincided with high fuel prices, leading the opposition to criticize government subsidies, which are now being phased out.
Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. sold 131,032 EVs in Europe in H1 2026, a 41.8% increase, driven by models like Kia EV3 and Hyundai Inster. The South Korean automakers anticipate surpassing 200,000 annual EV sales in Europe for the first time, expanding their lineup amid strong demand.
Australia experienced its largest quarterly surge in electric vehicle sales, doubling new purchases by June 30, with nearly half of all new vehicles sold being electric or hybrid. This boom coincided with high fuel prices and is occurring as the government plans to gradually reduce its EV tax discounts, a move criticized by the opposition.
Ford Motor reported a 10.3% decline in its second-quarter U.S. new vehicle sales, primarily due to an 11% drop in F-Series trucks from a supplier issue and a 40.7% fall in all-electric vehicle sales. Despite the overall decline, F-Series remained America's top-selling truck, and Ford's results slightly surpassed analyst expectations.
Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory saw a 39.4% year-on-year increase in EV sales in May, delivering 85,982 units. This growth aligns with a broader recovery in China's EV market, with total passenger EV sales rising 12% year-on-year.
South Korea saw electric vehicle sales more than double (2.4x) in March-April compared to the previous year, driven by rising oil prices due to Middle East tensions. Japan's EV sales also increased by 50% in the same period.
India's electric car sales jumped 79% in May to 26,319 units, driven by high fuel prices. Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra increased market share, controlling nearly 62% combined. Newcomer VinFast also saw growth, while JSW MG Motor and Hyundai Motor experienced declines.
China's electric vehicle sales rebounded in May, driven by new models with advanced features and strong performance from brands like Zeekr and Leapmotor. Despite recovery, overcapacity remains a concern.
Global electric vehicle sales surged to 20 million units last year, with China leading growth. The US market remains stagnant due to policy issues and Chinese automaker restrictions, challenging startups like Rivian and Lucid. Chinese brands are driving global expansion, particularly in developing economies.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global electric vehicle (EV) sales to hit 23 million in 2026, representing 28% of the new car market, driven by a stronger push away from gasoline amid Middle East tensions. In 2025, EV sales are expected to exceed 20 million, with nearly 100 countries setting sales records.
BEV sales jumped nearly 60% in April, taking total electric car registrations to more than 2m, says SMMTBusiness live – latest updatesA recent jump in electric car sales in the UK is likely to be “tempered” by worries over rising inflation and energy prices caused by the Iran war, a leading industry body has warned.New car sales in the UK rose by 24% year on year to 149,247 in April, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Continue reading...
Used EV sales jumped 27.7% in March from a year earlier as prices drop toward parity with gas-powered cars. The average used EV now costs $34,653, only $1,102 more than the average used gas car, down from a $3,923 premium a year ago. Federal tax credits for EVs ended in September 2025, but state incentives remain. Forty-four percent of used EVs sold for under $25,000 in March, up from 39% in December.
Sales of China-made EVs in South Korea reached 25,000 units in Q1 2026, a 286.1% increase year-on-year. Chinese EVs' market share surged from 4.7% in 2022 to 33.9% in 2025, while Korean brands fell from 75% to 57.2%. Tesla's Shanghai-built models, sold at lower prices with reduced specifications, drove much of the growth, with sales jumping 311% from 2022 to 2025.
EV growth in the EU is accelerating as Iran war disruption to the Strait of Hormuz tightens global oil and gas supplies, driving fuel price volatility.
Sales rebounded a bit from the first quarter of 2025, as Tesla throws a ton of money at massive bets like robotics, AI, and its own chip fab.
