PARIS, May 20 (Reuters) - Global electric car sales are expected to rise again in 2026 despite a weak start to the year, reaching 23 million vehicles and making up close to 30% of all cars sold worldwide, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.

• Falling battery prices, growing cost competitiveness and possible policy responses to the current energy crisis are expected to support further demand, the IEA said in its Global EV outlook report.

• Preliminary signs suggest EV sales are increasing in countries with supply concerns as a result of the current global energy crisis, or where fuel price increases have been particularly steep, the IEA said.

• However, the full implications of the current crisis will take time to register in the car market, due in part to the lag between vehicle orders and deliveries, it said.

• Global first-quarter 2026 sales fell 8% year-on-year after policy changes in China and the United States, the data showed.

• However, growth remained strong elsewhere, with Europe up nearly 30%, Asia Pacific excluding China up 80% and Latin America up 75%, the data showed.

• Electric cars' market share in Southeast Asia is expected to be a key growth region and could rise to 60% by 2035, helped by supportive prices and policies.

• The global EV fleet, excluding two- and three-wheelers, could reach as many as 510 million vehicles by 2035, up from nearly 80 million today, even without new policy announcements, the IEA said.