116M EVs To Be On Road by 2026, Predicts Gartner
The total installed base of EVs for 2025 stood at 89M, slightly higher than the 85M prediction from Gartner.
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In 2023, one in seven cars sold globally were electric. Business and technology insight company Gartner forecasts that by 2026, 116 million electric vehicles–cars, buses, vans, and heavy trucks–will be on the road.
The total installed base of EVs for 2025 stood at 89 million, slightly higher than the 85 million prediction from Gartner.
Notably, China, Europe, and the USA remain the largest markets for EVs, accounting for around 95% of all sales in 2024.
“Despite the U.S. government introducing tariffs on vehicle imports and many governments removing the subsidies and incentives for purchasing EVs, the number of EVs on the road is forecast to increase 30% in 2026,” said Jonathan Davenport, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner.
Battery EVs are expected to account for over half of the EV installed base, with a figure of 76.3 million, jumping from 59.4 million in 2025. “In 2026, China is projected to account for 61% of the total EV installed base,” he said.
Despite capturing a smaller segment, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) is seeing a growing customer base, growing from 30 million in 2025 to a prediction of almost 40 million. “Global ownership of plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) is expected to rise 32% year-over-year as customers value the reassurance of a back-up petrol engine for use, should they need it,” he added.
The EV market continues strong growth despite policy changes. Battery EVs domination with plug-in hybrids gaining steady popularity highlights a global shift toward sustainable transportation.
