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Updated · The New York Times · May 3Developing nations drive electric vehicle sales surge across Latin America, Africa and Asia
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 3
- Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said March EV sales in those regions rose 79% year on year, after a 48% increase across 2025.
- Costa Rica illustrates the shift: EVs made up 18% of new car sales in the first quarter, second in Latin America only to Uruguay.
- The trend is being helped by higher petrol and diesel prices linked to the war in Iran, with Chinese brands such as BYD and Geely gaining ground.
Is America losing the global EV race as emerging markets embrace Chinese models? What are the hidden economic and environmental costs of the cheap Chinese EV boom? Can Africa use its critical minerals to build its own EV industry, not just supply others?