Electric car sales in Chile, together with plug-in hybrids, are having their best year ever. Between January and September 2026, the country sold 14,837 plug-in light and medium vehicles, 144.6% more than in the same period of 2025, according to the September Zero and Low Emissions Report of the National Automotive Association of Chile (ANAC), based on Civil Registry data and released on October 26, 2026. Plug-ins now account for 6.3% of all new cars sold this year.
In September alone, 2,135 electric and plug-in hybrid units were sold, 152.1% more than in September 2025. The jump comes while the overall market shrinks: 30,989 new light and medium vehicles were sold in the month, 2.8% fewer than a year earlier, according to ANAC's September Automotive Market Report. Based on those two figures, plug-ins made up about 6.9% of September sales, according to a calculation by Energía Futura.
Electric car sales in Chile in figures
ANAC splits plug-ins into three technologies: battery electric vehicles (BEV), with only a battery and an electric motor; plug-in hybrids (PHEV), which combine a combustion engine with a battery charged from the grid; and plug-in range-extended electric vehicles (P-REEV), which use a combustion engine only as a generator. All three grew strongly in 2026.
| Technology | September 2026 | Monthly change | January-September 2026 | Year-to-date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery electric (BEV) | 1,307 | +183.5% | 8,209 | +112.0% |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | 710 | +117.1% | 5,665 | +171.7% |
| Plug-in range extender (P-REEV) | 118 | +100.0% | 963 | +783.5% |
| Total plug-ins | 2,135 | +152.1% | 14,837 | +144.6% |
| Conventional hybrids (HEV + REEV) | 1,416 | +70.4% | 11,586 | +61.3% |
| Mild hybrids (MHEV) | 2,546 | +73.7% | 19,443 | +74.0% |
Source: ANAC, Zero and Low Emissions Report for September 2026, based on Civil Registry data. Battery electrics account for 55.3% of the plug-ins sold this year, plug-in hybrids for 38.2% and range extenders for 6.5%. Adding conventional and mild hybrids, ANAC counts 45,866 zero and low emission vehicles sold between January and September.
Growth is far faster than in the overall market. Year-to-date sales of light and medium vehicles reached 237,181 units through September, up just 2.3%, supported by SUVs and pickups. Put another way, plug-ins sold about 8,800 more units than in 2025, while the whole market grew by about 5,300, according to a calculation by Energía Futura using ANAC figures. Without plug-ins, new car sales would have fallen.
Why electric car sales are growing in Chile
ANAC attributes the rise to fuel prices. According to the report, sales of new energy vehicles have grown every month since March 2026, amid higher crude prices caused by conflicts affecting global oil trade. The association estimates that fuel price changes have meant 30% additional spending on average for Chilean families since March.
Chilean drivers have felt the increase at the pump week after week. With the October 22 adjustment, diesel had risen by more than 400 pesos per liter since July, as we reported when covering the fifth consecutive fuel price increase. At those prices, the cost per kilometer of an electric car charged at home becomes more attractive than that of a gasoline car.
The report also includes a criticism: growth is largely due to fuel prices rather than other regulations such as the energy efficiency law, which sets fuel economy standards for new vehicles. The historical series shows the change in scale: plug-in sales between January and September went from 503 units in 2021 to 14,837 in 2026.
| Year | Plug-ins sold January-September | Market share (full year) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 503 | 0.2% |
| 2022 | 1,258 | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 1,283 | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 3,458 | 1.9% |
| 2025 | 6,066 | 2.8% |
| 2026 | 14,837 | 6.3% (through September) |
Source: ANAC, Zero and Low Emissions Report for September 2026. Shares for 2021 to 2025 are full-year figures; the 2026 share is year-to-date through September.
The brands leading electric car sales
Tesla dominates battery electrics. In September it sold 608 units, 46.5% of the month's BEVs, and its year-to-date total is 2,600, 31.7% of the segment. It is followed by BYD, with 951 units this year, and Volvo, with 551. In September, the Model Y added 313 units and the Model 3, 295.
| Brand | BEVs sold January-September 2026 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | 2,600 | 31.7% |
| BYD | 951 | 11.6% |
| Volvo | 551 | 6.7% |
| Geely | 471 | 5.7% |
| Dongfeng | 370 | 4.5% |
| Maxus | 360 | 4.4% |
| Chevrolet | 293 | 3.6% |
| Renault | 260 | 3.2% |
Among electric models, the Tesla Model Y has sold 1,395 units in 2026 and the Model 3, 1,204. Further back are the BYD Yuan Plus EV (488), the Volvo EX30 (484), the Geely EX2 (375) and the BYD Dolphin Mini (354). Model-by-model details and their evolution are in our ranking of Chile's best-selling electric cars.
Among plug-in hybrids and range extenders, Changan leads with 1,690 units and 25.5% of the segment this year, followed by BYD, with 1,323 (20.0%), and Riddara, with 461. The best-selling model is the Changan CS55 Plus iDD, with 824 units, ahead of the BYD Song Plus (608) and the Riddara RD6 pickup (461).
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See advertising optionsBuses, trucks and chargers: lagging behind
The momentum in cars is not repeated in heavy vehicles. Electrified buses totaled 445 units between January and September, 69.2% fewer than in 2025, and only 47 were sold in September (-89.5%). ANAC explains that this market depends largely on purchases for the RED system, in Santiago and the regions, and that the lack of tenders led to the decline. Electrified trucks reached 62 units, 8.8% more than the 57 sold in 2025.
Charging infrastructure is not keeping pace either. According to data from the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) cited by ANAC, 209 public charging points were added between January and September, 52.4% fewer than in the same period of 2025. Of these, 183 are direct current, that is, fast chargers.
| Charging indicator (SEC) | Figure |
|---|---|
| New public charging points (Jan-Sep 2026) | 209 (-52.4%) |
| Public points on the interoperability platform (Sep 15) | 1,853 |
| Of which slow / fast / ultra-fast | 1,155 / 496 / 202 |
| Chargers declared in 2026 (private, public and transit) | 1,581 |
| Installed capacity declared in 2026 | 61.0 MW (+12.8%) |
Most new chargers are private: 1,260 of the 1,581 declared this year, compared with 111 public ones and 210 for public transport. That is the pattern of a market where most drivers charge at home or at work. To see how Chile compares with other countries, check our electric car sales by country.
Frequently asked questions
How many electric cars were sold in Chile in 2026?
Between January and September 2026, Chile sold 8,209 battery electric cars and 14,837 plug-ins including plug-in hybrids and range extenders, according to ANAC.
What is the best-selling electric car in Chile?
The Tesla Model Y, with 1,395 units through September 2026, followed by the Tesla Model 3, with 1,204.
What share of the market do electric cars have?
Plug-ins account for 6.3% of new cars sold between January and September 2026. In full-year 2025 they were 2.8% and in 2024, 1.9%.
Why are electric car sales rising?
ANAC attributes it mainly to higher fuel prices since March 2026, which according to the association have meant 30% additional spending on average for Chilean families.
