Electric Vehicles To Reach 30% Of Global Sales In 2026 With Africa Lagging Behind -IEA

Africa is at low levels in terms electric vehicle sales as market adoption has continued to accelerate worldwide but the market’s expansion remains heavily concentrated in a few major regions.

According to the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2026 report published May 20, global electric vehicle sales could reach 23 million units in 2026, accounting for 28 per cent of worldwide car sales.

The forecast follows a record year in 2025, when more than 20 million electric vehicles were sold globally, representing 25 per cent of all new car registrations.

The report however shows that Africa’s electric vehicle market remains limited despite recent progress.

Sales increased from about 4,000 vehicles in 2023 to 25,000 units in 2025, mainly in Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa. The continent’s strongest growth has come from electric two-wheelers.

“Sales also grew markedly in Africa to reach about 70 000 two-wheelers in 2025 over 80 times more than at the start of the decade,” the IEA said. The agency added that electric three-wheelers accounted for more than 25 per cent of total three-wheeler sales, even as the broader market for those vehicles contracted.

The IEA also noted that about 60% of annual additions to Africa’s vehicle fleet come from imported used vehicles. That dynamic makes it harder to measure the real spread of electric mobility on the continent using only new vehicle registration data.

Beyond the auto market itself, the growth of electric mobility in Africa remains closely tied to the development of power systems. According to another IEA report published in October 2025, nearly 600 million people across Africa still lack access to electricity. The gap remains especially severe in sub-Saharan Africa, including in some urban areas.

As a result, future adoption of electric vehicles especially passenger cars will also depend on broader improvements in electricity access and grid reliability.

In China, electric vehicles accounted for nearly 55 per cent of total car sales in 2025 and could approach 60 per cent this year.

In Europe, EV sales increased by more than 30 per cent last year and reached 28% of the market, supported in part by stricter emissions regulations.

Several emerging markets also posted strong growth, including Southeast Asia, where sales more than doubled.

The report also noted that transport electrification extends beyond passenger cars. According to the IEA, two- and three-wheel vehicles remain the most electrified segment of road transport globally. Sales continued to rise in 2025, including a doubling in Vietnam.