In 2026, the global electric vehicle (EV) fleet – including cars, buses, vans, and heavy trucks – is forecast to reach 116 million units, according to Gartner, Inc., a leading business and technology insights company. This represents a significant increase from 89.55 million EVs in 2025, reflecting strong adoption trends across multiple vehicle segments.
Expert Insight on Market Growth
“Despite the U.S. government introducing tariffs on vehicle imports and many governments removing subsidies and incentives for EV purchases, the number of EVs on the road is forecast to increase 30% in 2026,” said Jonathan Davenport, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. “China is projected to account for 61% of the total EV installed base in 2026. Additionally, global ownership of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is expected to rise 32% year-over-year, as customers value the reassurance of a back-up petrol engine for occasional use.”
Battery EVs Remain Dominant
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are forecast to continue accounting for well over half of the global EV installed base. However, there is a growing proportion of customers opting for PHEVs, attracted by the flexibility of combining battery power with a traditional petrol engine.
According to Gartner, the global electric vehicle (EV) installed base is expected to grow from 89.55 million units in 2025 to 116.18 million units in 2026. This increase is driven by battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which are projected to rise from 59.48 million to 76.34 million units, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are expected to grow from 30.07 million to 39.83 million units, reflecting a strong and continuing shift toward electrification across all major vehicle categories.
