One in four cars sold in 2025 will be electric, says IEA
- REDAÇÃO H2RADAR
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The electrification of global mobility is no longer a promise, but a reality that is accelerating. According to the new edition of the Global EV Outlook report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global sales of electric cars are expected to exceed 20 million units in 2025, representing more than 25% of all vehicles sold worldwide. In a scenario still marked by economic uncertainty, the advance of electric vehicles is supported by increasing price competitiveness and expansion into emerging markets.
China leads, emerging markets accelerate, and costs fall
With more than 11 million units sold in 2024 — a number equivalent to the global total for 2022 — China is consolidating itself as the main driver of the electric transition, accounting for almost half of global sales of electric vehicles. The country also dominates the supply chain: it produces more than 70% of global electric cars and exported around 1.25 million units last year, helping to reduce prices in emerging economies.
The Asian and Latin American markets are emerging as new growth hubs, with sales expected to grow by over 60% in 2024. In the United States, the growth rate was more modest — around 10% — but still significant, reaching one in ten vehicles sold. In Europe, sales stagnated, reflecting the reduction in subsidies and incentive policies, although market share remains around 20%.
The upward trajectory of sales is also supported by the fall in the average global price of battery-powered electric cars, driven by increasing competition and the reduction in the cost of batteries. In China, two-thirds of the models sold in 2024 cost less than their combustion-powered equivalents, even without incentives. In the US and Germany, however, prices still remain between 20% and 30% higher than those of conventional cars.
Despite this, the operating costs of electric vehicles remain attractive: even with oil at US$40 per barrel, charging an electric car at home in Europe costs, on average, half the cost of charging a combustion vehicle. In addition to cars, electric trucks are also showing traction in the market: their global sales grew by 80% last year, accounting for almost 2% of all trucks sold. This growth was mainly driven by China, where electric heavy-duty models are already showing total cost competitiveness compared to diesel models.
