Portugal is among the world's most advanced markets in electric mobility adoption, ranking 7th among the 34 countries analyzed in the EV Charging Index 2026 report by consultancy Roland Berger. The study indicates that Portugal has penetration levels higher than several larger European economies, positioning the country as one of the leaders in the transition to electric vehicles.
Globally, electric vehicle sales grew more than 20% in the last year, exceeding 21 million units, representing one in four new vehicles sold. In 2025, the global fleet of electric vehicles exceeded 73 million units, representing more than 5% of cars and light commercial vehicles in circulation in the analyzed markets. Europe and the Asia-Pacific region continue to lead this evolution, while markets such as North America and Japan experienced a slowdown in adoption.
According to Pedro Galhardas, managing partner of Roland Berger Portugal, the main challenge is now to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with the growth of electric mobility, with the expansion of fast and ultra-fast charging being crucial to sustaining market development in the coming years.
The report also highlights that China reached a 50% penetration rate in new electric vehicle sales in 2025, accounting for about nine out of ten electric vehicle sales in the Asia-Pacific region. Chinese manufacturers are identified as one of the main transformation factors in the sector, with an impact on cost reduction, expansion into new markets, and the alteration of competitive dynamics in regions such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and Turkey.
