KATHMANDU: Used electric vehicle demand is rising across the region as fuel prices increase following the Iran war 2026, according to Reuters.
Petrol prices in the European Union have jumped around 12% to 2.12 USD per liter between late February and mid-March, pushing buyers towards EVs.
Platforms such as Aramisauto reported EV sales share nearly doubling to 12.7% in early March. Petrol and diesel vehicle sales declined during the same period. CEO Romain Boscher said higher fuel costs are directly increasing interest in EVs and hybrids.
Online marketplace OLX also recorded strong growth in EV enquiries, including France (50%), Portugal (54%), Romania (40%), and Poland (39%). The company said rising fuel prices have accelerated an already growing shift towards electric mobility.
In Northern Europe, platforms owned by Vend reported increased EV sales and searches. Sweden’s Blocket saw EV sales rise 11% in early March, while Germany’s mobile.de reported EV search share tripling to 36%.
Analysts note used EVs respond faster to fuel price changes as they are up to 40% cheaper than new cars and readily available. With oil supply disruptions affecting around 20% of global shipments, demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is expected to remain strong.
