How Many Cars Will There Be in the World in 2025? Global Data and Trends

February 24, 2025

How many cars will be on the road in the world in 2025?

According to the latest reports from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2025 there are approximately 1.55 billion cars in circulation worldwideThis number continues to rise due to population growth, urbanization, and access to vehicles in emerging markets like China and India.

However, the automotive landscape is changing dramatically with electrification and environmental regulations. Below, we analyze the distribution of these vehicles by type, region, and how the market is evolving toward more sustainable alternatives.

Car distribution worldwide in 2025

The global vehicle fleet is made up of different types of vehicles:

Vehicle Type	Approximate Amount (millions)	Trend
Internal combustion cars (gasoline and diesel)	1.200	Declining due to regulations and adoption of electric vehicles.
Hybrid cars (HEV and PHEV)	200	On the rise, especially in Europe and Asia.
Fully electric vehicles (BEV)	150	Accelerated growth, representing more than 101% of sales by 2025.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are increasing significantly, with projections of exceeding 30% of the total fleet by 2030.

How the number of cars has grown in recent years

The total number of cars in the world has grown steadily over the last decade:

2015: 1.2 billion cars
2020: 1.4 billion
2025: 1.55 billion
2030 (projection): 1.7 billion

This growth is due, in part, to increased demand for vehicles in developing economies, although the market is undergoing a transformation with the transition to electric mobility and ride-sharing.

Recommended reading: The cheapest electric cars in 2025.

The impact of electric cars on the automotive industry

Electric cars have gone from being a novelty to a mainstream trend by 2025. Today:

More than 50% of cars sold in Norway are electric.
China leads the market, with more than 50 million electric vehicles on the road.
Europe has implemented regulations banning the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars starting in 2035.

The best-selling electric car brands in 2025 include:

Tesla (Model 3, Model Y)
BYD (Atto 3, Han EV)
Volkswagen (ID.4, ID.3)
Hyundai/Kia (Ioniq 5, EV6)
BMW (i4, iX3)

To learn more about electric cars, check out: How many electric cars will be sold in 2025?.

Countries with the most cars on the road in 2025

The countries with the largest number of registered vehicles are:

China – 400 million cars
United States – 290 million
India – 120 million
Japan – 80 million
Germany – 50 million

China remains the leading market, thanks to its strong economic growth and mass production of affordable electric cars.

Factors influencing the growth of the vehicle fleet

The number of cars in the world continues to increase, but key factors could change the pace of growth:

Environmental regulations: Stricter regulations are forcing the transition to clean energy.
Mobility alternatives: Services like Uber, car sharing, and public transportation are making progress in congested cities.
Economic crises and fuel prices: Fossil fuel costs impact vehicle purchases.

Recommended reading: Is it legal to record with a dashcam in Spain?.

How many cars will there be in the world in 2030?

Projections indicate that there will be nearly 1.7 billion cars on the road by 2030. However, the proportion of electric vehicles will be much higher:

50% electric
35% hybrids
15% internal combustion

This will change road infrastructure, with more charging stations and regulations to limit the most polluting cars in large cities.

Conclusion: Where is the automotive industry headed?

By 2025, there will be more than 1.55 billion cars in the world, but the market is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Electrification is advancing, regulations are tightening, and ride-sharing continues to grow.

If you're looking for a new car, it's important to consider the evolution of the sector and opt for sustainable alternatives.

Recommended reading: How many car brands are there in the world?

Bibliography and Sources Consulted

To ensure the accuracy of data on the number of cars worldwide in 2025, as well as automotive and electrification trends, reliable and official sources were used. The main references are presented below:

Institutional and Statistical Sources

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) – Data on vehicle production and circulation worldwide: https://www.oica.net
International Energy Agency (IEA) – Reports on the transition to electric mobility and vehicle fleet growth: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025
European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) – Regulations and market forecasts for the automotive industry in Europe: https://www.acea.auto
Statista – Global Automotive Market Data and Analysis: https://www.statista.com

Sources of News and Analysis of the Sector

Bloomberg NEF – Analysis of the growth of electric cars and the automotive industry: https://about.bnef.com
Reuters Automotive – Reports on automotive trends and regulations: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation
El País Motor – News and analysis on the car market in Spain and Europe: https://elpais.com/motor
GadgetingCar.com – Specialized content on automotive technology, gadgets, and car accessories: https://gadgetingcar.com

Government and Regulatory Reports

Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) – Vehicle regulations and standards in Spain: https://www.dgt.es
European Commission – Sustainable mobility and emissions reduction policies: https://ec.europa.eu/transport