Ken Okeke
The Executive Director of International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol, says that despite significant uncertainties, electric cars remain on a strong growth trajectory globally with sales setting new records.
According to Global EV outlook report, sales continue to grow in spite of uncertainties in the global economy and pressures on the automotive sector.
While global sales exceeded 17 million in 2024, the market share of these vehicles exceeded 20 per cent for the first time.
China maintained its leadership in the market, accounting for more than half of last year’s sales.
The 11 million electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 equaled the total number of electric vehicles sold worldwide in 2022.
The EV sales in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America also climbed by 60per cent last year.
In the U.S., the sales were up by 10 per cent year-on-year, while they remained stagnant in Europe as incentives and supportive policies weakened.
Two-thirds of electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 were priced below conventional vehicles in spite of a lack of purchase incentives, but the gap between electric and conventional vehicle prices remained wide in many countries.
In the first three months of this year, electric vehicle sales rose by 35 per cent year-on-year.
It said that with continued growth, total electric vehicle sales are expected to exceed 20 million this year.
“EVs remain consistently cheaper to operate across many markets, based on current energy market prices.
“Even if oil prices were to fall as low as $40 per barrel, running an electric car in Europe via home charging would still cost about half as much as running a conventional car at today’s residential electricity prices,” the report said.
However, Global economic growth, trade development, and industrial policies may affect the outlook for the electric vehicle sector, but sales are being supported by electric vehicle prices becoming more affordable.
“Our data shows that, despite significant uncertainties, electric cars remain on a strong growth trajectory globally. Sales continue to set new records, with major implications for the international auto industry,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
“This year, we expect more than one in four cars sold worldwide to be electric, with growth accelerating in many emerging economies.
By the end of this decade, it is set to be more than two in five cars as EVs become increasingly affordable,” he added.