Electric vehicle ownership has reached a “tipping point” signalling an irreversible shift away from petrol cars, according to expert research. EVs accounted for 25 per cent of new car sales globally in 2025, with growth continuing into the first quarter of 2026. The transition is being driven not only by China but also by south-east Asia and Europe, despite stalling in the US market.

Regional variations are stark. In Singapore, EVs made up 56 per cent of sales in the first two months of the year, while Thailand saw 28 per cent and Indonesia 21 per cent. The EU experienced a 49 per cent surge in March uptake as fuel prices spiked from the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, western carmakers have been forced to redraw their strategies, spending over $75bn to scrap fully electric models and reinvest in hybrids following policy reversals.

Investment bank UBS projects that EVs, plug-in hybrids and extended-range vehicles will reach 58 per cent of global sales by 2035, up from 23 per cent in 2025. Research from Exeter University and the World Bank found the EV tipping point to be “self-propelling” and less contingent on future public policy. Despite ongoing political uncertainty, analysts argue innovation cannot be stopped. “Even in markets that have rather adverse politics or regulation against EVs, you’re not going to stop innovation at the end of the day,” said UBS analyst Patrick Hummel.