This working paper highlights that electric mobility has become one of the most significant transformations in both the global energy system and automotive market. In 2025, worldwide sales of electric vehicles surpassed 20 million units, accounting for 25% of all new vehicle sales. By 2026, sales are projected to reach 23 million units, representing nearly 28% of the global market. In this context, China remains the dominant player due to its scale, industrial capacity, and export strength; the European Union is experiencing a recovery driven by regulatory measures; and the United States is showing more moderate growth, influenced by changes in incentive policies. Together, these trends confirm that transport electrification has evolved from an emerging trend into a structural component of the energy transition.<\/p>\n
In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the report points to sustained growth, although electric mobility remains at an early stage in terms of penetration within the overall vehicle fleet. As of the first quarter of 2026, the region recorded 837,014 electrified light-duty vehicles in operation and quarterly sales of 106,765 units, suggesting that the total fleet could surpass one million vehicles by the end of the year if current trends continue. Brazil leads the region by a wide margin, accounting for more than half of the total electrified light-duty vehicle fleet, while Uruguay stands out on a per-capita basis. Chile has consolidated its position as a regional leader in electric buses, with a fleet that places it among the most advanced countries in the world in this segment. Nevertheless, the report emphasizes that electromobility still represents only around 0.7% of the region\u2019s total light-duty vehicle fleet, highlighting both the progress achieved and the substantial room for future expansion.<\/p>\n
One of the report\u2019s key messages is that the development of electromobility should not be assessed solely by the growth of the vehicle fleet, but also by countries\u2019 ability to deploy charging infrastructure and capture tangible economic benefits. Brazil also leads the region in the absolute number of public charging stations, while Chile stands out when infrastructure is assessed relative to the size of its electrified fleet, demonstrating a higher density of coverage. This progress is accompanied by significant economic benefits: based on fuel prices as of March 2026, OLACDE estimates annual savings of USD 1.157 billion associated with the use of battery electric vehicles and electric buses across the region, in addition to substantial reductions in gasoline and diesel consumption. In conclusion, electric mobility in LAC continues to advance steadily and delivers tangible benefits; however, accelerating the deployment of charging infrastructure, strengthening national markets, and maintaining supportive policies will be essential to scale adoption in a more balanced and sustainable manner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This working paper highlights that electric mobility has become one of the most significant transformations in both the global energy system and automotive market. In 2025, worldwide sales of electric vehicles surpassed 20 million units, accounting for 25% of all new vehicle sales. By 2026, sales are projected to reach 23 million units, representing nearly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33731,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33728","publicaciones","type-publicaciones","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-olade-working-papers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n