OTT Statistics

Automotive statistics 2026
Photo by Daen van Beers on Unsplash

The automotive industry is being reshaped by electrification, software, supply-chain shifts, and changing consumer demand. In 2026, the strongest industry story is not just total vehicle sales, but how quickly EVs are changing the mix of new-car demand worldwide.

Quick Answer (2026): Global electric car sales topped 17 million in 2024, and EVs exceeded 20% of new car sales worldwide. China remained the largest EV market, with sales of more than 11 million electric cars.

Automotive industry key statistics

Metric Figure Year
Global EV sales 17+ million 2024
Share of new global car sales 20%+ 2024
China EV sales 11+ million 2024
Global EV fleet Almost 58 million End of 2024
Total vehicle sales in China 31.4 million 2024

How big is the EV market?

Electric car sales topped 17 million worldwide in 2024, rising sharply year over year. That makes EVs one of the biggest structural changes in the modern automotive market.

EV market share

By 2024, EVs accounted for more than 20% of new car sales globally. That is a much stronger and more current framing than older pandemic-era EV growth figures.

China’s role in autos

China remained the world’s largest EV market in 2024, with electric car sales exceeding 11 million. It also remained the world’s largest overall car market, with 31.4 million vehicles sold in 2024.

Automotive facts that still hold up

  • Karl Benz is widely credited with inventing the first practical automobile in 1886.
  • The Ford Model T helped popularize assembly-line automotive manufacturing in the early 20th century.
  • China remains the largest car market in the world by annual unit sales.

FAQ

How many EVs were sold globally in 2024?

More than 17 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2024.

What share of new car sales were EVs in 2024?

EVs exceeded 20% of global new car sales in 2024.

Which country is the largest EV market?

China was the largest EV market in 2024, with sales exceeding 11 million.

Sources / References