![An electric-vehicle charging station at a building in Seoul. [Photo=Yonhap]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/04/21/20260421140221667097.jpg)
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said Tuesday that new EV registrations exceeded 100,000 on April 14.
The pace has been faster than in recent years. In 2025, when EV adoption was highest for the year at 220,919 vehicles, registrations passed 100,000 in the second week of July. In 2024, with 146,902 vehicles, the milestone came in the second week of September.
On April 15, cumulative EV registrations surpassed 1 million. As of April 17, the total stood at 1,004,727.
Through March, EVs accounted for 83,533 of 415,746 new vehicles, or 20.1%.
The EV share of new vehicles slipped slightly from 9.2% in 2023 to 8.9% in 2024, but rose to 13.0% in 2025.
The ministry attributed the recent rise to a broader lineup of new models, price discount competition among automakers, expanded EV subsidies — including government support for switching from internal-combustion vehicles — and early implementation of distribution programs. Some observers also cited higher oil prices linked to the situation in the Middle East.
The government recently secured additional EV purchase-subsidy funding in a supplementary budget for 20,000 passenger cars and 9,000 trucks. That brings this year’s planned subsidy volume to 280,000 passenger cars, 45,000 trucks and 3,800 buses.
With many local governments running out of first-half subsidy allocations, the government plans to urge municipalities with remaining second-half allocations to move up their public notices. The municipalities planning to do so number 81 for passenger cars and 75 for trucks.
The government also said it will allow municipalities that need to add budget for EV subsidies to pay subsidies first using national funds.
Minister Kim Sung-hwan said, “This year will be recorded as a historic year that opens the era of 1 million electric vehicles,” adding that the government will pursue “effective and swift measures” so the public does not face inconvenience in using EVs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.