Gas Cars Fall Below 50% of Global New Car Sales for the First Time
"Gas cars are now a minority of the world's new car sales," reports Electrek. Gasoline-only vehicles made up 49% of global new-vehicle sales in the first half of 2026, down from 73% in 2021, according to Mobility Global data first reported by Nikkei. It's the first time on record that they've been under half. But there's a catch: most of the cars taking their place still have a gas tank... [The…
Gasoline-only vehicles have become a minority in global new car sales for the first time, according to Electrek. In the first half of 2026, they made up 49% of the market, down from 73% in 2021. Battery-electric vehicles saw a 12% increase, accounting for 17% of sales, while conventional hybrids grew 10% to take 18% of the market.
The remaining share comprises diesel, plug-in hybrids, and other minor fuels. The shift is attributed to rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, making electric vehicles more attractive. Gas car sales dropped the most in China and Europe. Although hybrids outsold pure electric vehicles, they still represent only about 83% of new vehicles sold worldwide, with the rest being gas-powered.
U.S. hybrid sales surged by 23%, reaching a record 16.3% of vehicles sold in the second quarter of 2026. Despite the rapid decline in gas-only car dominance, there are no indications that this share will return anytime soon.
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