High fuel costs drive electric motorcycle surge in Pakistan and Vietnam

September 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Electric motorcycle sales are surging in Pakistan and Vietnam as high fuel prices make battery-powered two-wheelers cheaper to run. Pakistan's e-motorcycle sales rose 173% in the first half of 2026, while Vietnam's VinFast delivered 143,136 electric motorbikes in Q1, up 219% year-on-year. The shift is driven by oil price spikes following the Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz closure, alongside government subsidies and low-emission zones.

Key Facts

Pakistan's electric two-wheeler sales rose 173% in the first half of 2026, according to Motorcycles Data.
VinFast delivered 143,136 electric motorbikes and e-bikes in Q1 2026, up 219% from the same period in 2025.
Models from around 84 companies are now available in Pakistan.
Honda Motor announced plans in July to begin production of its UC3 electric motorcycle in Vietnam starting this year.
Hanoi established a low-emission zone in its city centre that restricts gasoline-powered motorcycles on weekends.

Pakistan Market Surge

Motorbikes make up about 80% of vehicles on the road in Pakistan. E-motorcycles were rarely seen just a few years ago, but new brands are entering the market every week. The rise in popularity has given way to small startups backed by venture capital, as well as traditional EV makers. Many of the motorcycles being sold in Pakistan come from China, although some companies are fitting domestically produced motorbikes with Chinese motors.

Vietnam Growth Drivers

In Vietnam, motorcycles have long been popular due to heavy congestion, and automakers are seeing electric two-wheeler sales soar. The establishment of a low-emission zone in Hanoi’s city centre, which restricts the use of gasoline-powered motorcycles on weekends, is driving uptake in the capital. VinFast saw record e-motorcycle order volumes in the first quarter of 2026. Honda is expected to develop production facilities in the northern province of Phu Tho.