Global Sales of Pure-Fuel Vehicles Drop Below 50% for the First Time

According to Mobility Global, in the first half of 2026, pure gasoline models accounted for 49% of global new car sales. This marks the first time in history that the share of pure gasoline vehicles has fallen below 50%, a significant drop of 24 percentage points from 73% in 2021. Data also shows that overall automotive market size contracted by approximately 5% in the first half of this year, while the decline in pure gasoline vehicle sales was twice as steep. Industry insiders attribute the accelerated market shift to soaring fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict, prompting consumers to seek vehicles with lower operating costs. By region, gasoline car sales in China fell by 26% year-on-year in the first half of the year, representing the largest global decline. (China Fund Daily)