Consumer EV Interest Accelerating

EV searches surge across OLX markets as conflict drives shift away from fossil fuels

We’re seeing something striking happen across our platforms right now. Since the start of the Iran War, searches for electric vehicles have jumped significantly as consumers react to surging oil prices and look for alternatives.

Using real-time data from our online car marketplaces across Europe and South Africa, OLX has tracked some sharp shifts in consumer behaviour: France has seen a 50% jump in EV interest since the conflict started and 145% year-on-year, Portugal recorded a 54% surge, and Poland saw a 26% increase. At the same time, interest in diesel has dropped sharply, down as much as 15% in some markets.

Here’s what the data tells us:

• EV interest surged between 9% and 31% in the first week of the conflict across Portugal, Poland, France, and Romania, with accelerated growth in subsequent weeks.

• South Africa saw a 50% surge in EV interest despite having the lowest starting baseline and burgeoning EV infrastructure.

• Portugal saw nearly 1 in 4 automotive searches shift to EVs — up from 1 in 7 before the conflict.

• Year-on-year comparisons show EV demand growth far outpacing 2025 trends, with France recording a 145% increase compared to March 2025.

The findings suggest that geopolitical instability tied to energy supply is accelerating consumer transitions to electric mobility faster than policy incentives alone have achieved.

Christian Gisy, CEO of OLX Group, said: “We’re tracking millions of automotive leads each month across our platforms, and what we’re seeing right now is striking: EV interest has doubled in less than a month in some markets, with demand surging as much as 54% in just three weeks.

“This tells us something important. Geopolitical uncertainty is fundamentally shifting how consumers think about energy independence. And that shift is happening fast.

“What this tells me is that the tipping point is closer than most people think. The consumer appetite for EVs is clearly there. The real question is whether infrastructure and policy frameworks can keep pace. Because if supply chains and charging networks don’t catch up now, we risk losing this momentum.”