In the current automotive landscape, gasoline cars have long been the stronghold of manufacturers from Japan, Europe, and the United States.

Take, for instance, the top 10 global automakers—most hail from these regions and predominantly produce gasoline-powered vehicles. Over the past few decades, these nations have reaped substantial profits from gasoline cars on the global stage.

However, with China's relentless push in new energy vehicles (NEVs), the tide of victory is gradually shifting towards this emerging sector.

Recently, Mobility Global, a reputable global automotive data agency, released a report indicating that in the first half of 2026, sales of pure gasoline cars are projected to reach 20.25 million units, marking a 10% decline. These sales will constitute only 49% of global new car sales. This signifies the first instance where gasoline cars' market share has dipped below the 50% threshold, with NEVs surpassing 50% for the first time.

Back in 2021, gasoline cars commanded a 75% market share, while NEVs accounted for a mere 25%. In just five years, the tables have turned, with NEVs gaining the upper hand and gasoline cars witnessing a staggering 24-percentage-point decline.

Moreover, this shift in momentum is not solely attributed to the Chinese market; the entire world is gradually moving away from gasoline cars.

For example, in the first half of the year, sales of pure electric vehicles in the European market surged by 32%, in Southeast Asia by 81%, and in Oceania, they doubled. It's evident that NEVs are experiencing rapid growth in the global automotive market.

Meanwhile, sales of gasoline cars are on a gradual decline, reminiscent of the aging process. In the first half of the year, sales fell across Europe, China, the United States, and Southeast Asia...

What led to the decline in gasoline car sales in the first half of the year? Some attribute it to the U.S.-Iran conflict, which triggered a global spike in oil prices, thereby increasing the operating costs of gasoline cars. Consequently, consumers are opting for NEVs with lower operating costs, reducing their purchases of gasoline cars.

However, experts argue that the fundamental reason lies in the significant advantages of NEVs over gasoline cars. Firstly, their operating costs are lower, and secondly, their level of intelligence is substantially higher, offering a vastly different user experience.

Industry insiders note that currently, there is rampant trade protectionism in the global automotive industry, making it relatively challenging for Chinese NEVs to penetrate global markets. Once these barriers are dismantled, it is estimated that the proportion of NEVs will soar even higher.

So, who is feeling the most discomfort now? Undoubtedly, it's countries and regions with robust gasoline car industries, such as Japan, Germany, the United States, and South Korea. These regions primarily focus on gasoline cars and have made minimal progress in the NEV sector.

China, on the other hand, is poised to gradually assume leadership in the automotive market. In the realm of NEVs, no automaker can rival Chinese companies. Even Tesla is facing stiff competition, let alone traditional gasoline car manufacturers.