Fact of the Week: Chinese EV Manufacturers Now Control 60 Percent of EV Sales Across Emerging Markets

Source: Carol Ryan, “War is Helping Chinese EVs Upend the Global Car Market,” The Wall Street Journal, August 10, 2026.

Commentary: Disruption to the global oil market caused by the war in the Middle East has proven to be a boon for the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry. Earlier this year, Chinese EV makers had excess supply and were witnessing weakening global demand. But since the start of the war, Chinese EV exports have boomed amid increasing global gas prices, with demand rising 120 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. The increase in demand for EVs has been most pronounced in emerging markets, such as Brazil and Colombia, where EV sales doubled and quadrupled, respectively. These are also the markets where China is most dominant—they control 60 percent of EV sales across emerging markets. China’s dominance in these markets will be difficult for Western automakers to overcome in the coming years, a worrying prospect, as emerging markets are expected to account for 60 percent of global auto demand over the next decade.