Petrol-only vehicles have accounted for less than half of global new vehicle sales for the first time on record, marking a significant shift in the global automotive industry as hybrid and electric vehicles continue to gain popularity.
According to automotive industry data reported by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, petrol-only vehicles accounted for approximately 49% of global new vehicle sales during the first half of 2026, down from 52% during the same period in 2025.
The figures represent a sharp decline from 2021, when petrol-only vehicles accounted for approximately 73% of global new vehicle sales.
During the January-June 2026 period, around 20.25 million petrol-only vehicles were sold worldwide, representing a year-on-year decline of approximately 10%.
The shift reflects growing consumer demand for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, supported by advances in battery technology, expanding charging infrastructure and increasing competition among automakers.
However, the decline in petrol-only vehicles does not mean that electric vehicles now dominate the global market.
A significant portion of the remaining market consists of hybrid vehicles, which continue to use petrol engines alongside electric motors.
The development marks an important milestone in the global automotive industry’s transition toward electrification, as traditional petrol-only vehicles lose their long-standing majority share of new vehicle sales. (Newswire)
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