Thermal vehicles sales reached 63 million units worldwide in 2025
- Of the estimated 87.7 million light vehicles sold worldwide in 2025, 63 million wereinternal combustion engine (ICE) or mild hybrid (MHEV) vehicles, and 24.7 million were equipped with alternative powertrain (NEV = BEV + PHEV + F-HEV). Among these 24.7 million alternative powertrain vehicles, 12.30 million were BEVs (battery electric vehicles), 6.86 million PHEVs (plug-in hybrid vehicles), and 5.43 million F-HEVs (non-plug-in hybrid vehicles).
- It is in China that sales of internal combustion engine vehicles have fallen the most in recent years, from 95% of the market in 2019 to 60% at the end of 2024 and 40% at the end of 2025. It is the only one of the four major global markets (China, USA, Europe, Japan) where the majority of light vehicles sold at the end of 2025 are powered by alternative fuels, and this situation seems to anticipate the one expected to be observed in 2026.
- Europe (30 countries = EU + United Kingdom + Switzerland + Norway) is the second major market to position itself as one of the most receptive to the development of sales of light vehicles with alternative powertrains, since its sales of internal combustion engine vehicles fell from 90% in 2019 to 70% in 2024 and 65% in 2025. At the end of 2025, it even approached 55%.
- Japan is less receptive, with a 65% market share in thermal energy in 2025 compared to 75% in 2019. The US is even less receptive, with 80% market share in thermal energy in 2025 compared to 95% in 2019.