EVs made up over a quarter of new cars sold in 2025

A report from energy think tank Ember reveals more than a quarter of new cars sold in 2025 are electric, showing how quickly the global car market is shifting.

This growth is increasingly driven by emerging markets that only a few years ago had minimal uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).

The analysis shows that the EV race has gone truly worldwide. There are now 39 countries where EVs make up more than 10 percent of new car sales, compared with just four in 2019.

Much of the fastest growth is now happening outside Europe, with ASEAN emerging as a new leader in transport electrification.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) became a major force in global EV adoption in 2025. Singapore and Vietnam have reached EV sales shares of around 40 percent, overtaking levels seen in the UK and the EU.

Indonesia has reached 15 percent this year, surpassing the United States for the first time.

Thailand has reached 20 percent and has sold more EVs in the first three quarters of 2025 than Denmark.

These shifts show how quickly the region is moving from a low base to a position of leadership.

Other regions are also gaining momentum. In Latin America, Uruguay has reached a 27 percent EV share, roughly in line with the EU.

Mexico and Brazil continue to show steady growth and now sit above Japan, where the EV share has remained around three percent since 2022.

Turkey has reached 17 percent, overtaking Belgium to become Europe’s fourth-largest battery electric vehicle market by volume.

“This is a major turning point,” said Euan Graham, Electricity and Data Analyst (Global) at Ember.

“In 2025, the centre of gravity has moved. Emerging markets are no longer catching up; they are leading the shift to electric mobility.

“These countries see the strategic advantages of EVs, from cleaner air to reduced fossil fuel imports,” Graham continued.

“The assumption that EV growth will stall outside Europe and China is already outdated.

“Emerging markets will shape the future of the global car market. The choices made now on charging infrastructure and early support will determine how fast this momentum continues.”

Emerging markets are driving the growth in Chinese EV exports. Since mid-2023, almost all the growth in Chinese EV exports has come from non-OECD markets.

Brazil, Mexico, the UAE and Indonesia are among the 10 largest destinations for Chinese EV exports this year as their governments have introduced policies to support EV adoption, from reduced taxes to incentives for domestic manufacturing.

As more countries take up EVs, the impact on fossil fuel demand is already visible. EVs are three times more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles, which means they deliver large reductions in oil use even in countries that still rely heavily on fossil fuels for power generation.

In Brazil, where electricity is mostly clean, battery electric vehicles cut fossil fuel demand by around 90 percent. In Indonesia, they cut it by close to half.