Historic Break in Automotive: Market Share of Gasoline Vehicles Dropped Below 50 Percent for the First Time

A historical threshold has been crossed that has radically changed the balance in the global automotive market. According to global vehicle sales data for the first half of 2026, the total market share of conventional internal combustion engine cars that run only on gasoline fell below the 50 percent limit for the first time, falling to 49 percent. Pure gasoline models, which held 73 percent of the market in 2021, suffered a huge share loss of 24 points in less than five years.

Pure Gasoline Engines Are Losing Blood Rapidly

The data shared by Nikkei of the Mobility Global research company, which previously operated under the name S&P Global Mobility, reveals the extent of the transformation in clear figures. In the first half of 2026, covering the period between January and June, sales of vehicles using only gasoline decreased by 10 percent compared to the same period last year, decreasing to 20.25 million units. With this decrease, the share of gasoline vehicles in the global market dropped from 52 percent to 49 percent.

Considering that the global automobile market contracted by approximately 5 percent in the first six months, the loss in gasoline vehicle sales is occurring twice as fast as the market as a whole. Rising geopolitical tensions and fluctuating oil prices are accelerating consumers' quest to reduce operating and fuel costs.

2026 First Semi-Global Powertrain Distribution

Engine Type Sales Unit (H1 2026) Annual Change Market Share Pure Gasoline 20.25 million -10% 49% Conventional Hybrid 7.27 million +10% 18% All-Electric (BEV) 6.87 million +12% 17% Diesel, PHEV and Others – – ~16%

Electric and Hybrid Models Are on the Rise: But There's a Detail

Although it is a remarkable development that traditional gasoline vehicles have lost their throne, the internal combustion engine continues to maintain its presence in the majority of vehicles sold. Purely electric (BEV) models grew by 12 percent in the first half, reaching a volume of 6.87 million units and a market share of 17 percent. However, traditional hybrid vehicles (HEV) surpassed electric vehicles, capturing 18 percent of the market, with a growth of 10 percent and sales of 7.27 million units.

The other 16 percent of the market consists of diesel, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and alternative fuel vehicles. This means that only 17 percent of the fully electric share is zero-emission; The remaining approximately 83 percent of the new car fleet still includes a fuel tank and an internal combustion engine consuming gasoline or diesel under the hood.

Regional Differences: China and Europe Rush to Electricity

The sharpest crash in traditional gasoline vehicle sales occurred in China, the world's largest automotive market. While pure gasoline vehicle sales in the Chinese market decreased by 26 percent on an annual basis, a 13 percent decrease was recorded in the European market. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) also confirm that registrations of fully electric vehicles across the European Union have surpassed gasoline cars.

Demand for electric vehicles has increased by 81 percent in Southeast Asia and more than doubled in the Oceania region. Although the sales pace of fully electric vehicles has slowed down somewhat with the end of incentives in the North American market, consumers are turning to hybrid alternatives instead of gasoline vehicles. Experts predict that the overwhelming majority of electric vehicle owners do not switch back to gasoline vehicles and that the electrification trend will accelerate further as battery costs decrease.