US And Israeli Airstrikes On Iran Push Europe Electric Car Sales To Record Highs

Electric car sales in European markets surged to record highs in recent weeks as soaring gasoline and diesel prices were described as a direct consequence of military conflicts in the Middle East.

“Editing:Megan Rowling Nearly 30% of cars sold this year are set to be electric as the war in Iran has sent petrol and diesel prices soaring and drivers in many parts of the world look to electric vehicles as a cheaper alternative”

Climate Home News

The Reuters data cited by صـوت الإمارات said demand for electric vehicles in Europe surged dramatically, with the sharp rise in fuel prices linked to the Iran war forcing consumers to shift their focus.

Climate Home News

In parallel, Yonhap reported that South Korea’s auto exports fell more than 5 percent in April from a year earlier, while domestic sales of electric vehicles increased sharply as higher oil prices were caused by the war in the Middle East.

Yonhap put the combined value of automobile exports at US$6.17 billion in April and said exports to the Middle East plunged 38.7 percent amid the ongoing war between the United States and Iran.

In Europe, صـوت الإمارات said oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in a long while after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran at the end of February triggered a wider regional conflict.

Yonhap said eco-friendly vehicles rose 13.5 percent to $2.52 billion in April, led by a 23.1 percent increase in EV and hydrogen car sales and a 40.2 percent jump for hybrid cars.

It also reported that domestic EV sales surged 139.7 percent to 38,927 units in April, while sales of hybrid cars dipped 1.9 percent to 50,872 units.

L'Automobile Magazine

In a separate analysis, L'Automobile Magazine said electric cars accounted for more than 25% of global new car sales between January and October 2025, and that in 2019 they accounted for less than 3%.

L'Automobile Magazine added that the symbolic milestone of 10% market share was crossed by 39 countries in 2025 versus only four in 2019, and that today 12 of these 39 countries are located outside Europe.

Climate Home News tied the acceleration to the war in Iran, saying that in March, after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli military strikes, around 30 countries saw record-breaking monthly sales of battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

Climate Home News quoted Araceli Fernandez, the head of the IEA’s technology innovation unit, saying the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war has spotlighted the benefits of driving an electric car and created “an upside potential” for the agency’s EV forecast this year.

“(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more info in paras 7-10) SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports decreased more than 5 percent from a year earlier in April, amid a sharp decrease in shipments to the Middle East due to a geopolitical crisis there, government data showed Wednesday”

Yonhap News Agency

It also said the IEA described the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of oil and gas trade passes, as the “largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market”.

In Europe, صـوت الإمارات said the shift could reshape the global transportation landscape more rapidly than previously anticipated, while also noting that although sales of fully electric vehicles grew by nearly 30 percent across Europe in 2025, adoption rates lagged behind industry ambitions and government plans.

Yonhap reported that production contracted 6.1 percent on-year to 362,000 units in April due to supply chain disruptions of some auto parts and consumers waiting for the launch of new and facelifted models, and said the ministry expected production disruptions to normalize starting in June.

Looking ahead, Climate Home News quoted Timur Gül, the IEA’s chief energy technology officer, saying “Many governments in oil-importing countries in particular will potentially turn to identify ways for scaling up electric vehicle deployment,” as governments respond to soaring oil prices.