Key Takeaways
- European Union gasoline costs have climbed 12% since late February due to the Iran conflict, averaging €1.84 per litre
- Demand for pre-owned electric vehicles has skyrocketed throughout Europe, with certain markets recording inquiry increases exceeding 50%
- French platform Aramisauto witnessed its EV sales proportion nearly double within three weeks, jumping from 6.5% to 12.7%
- German automotive marketplace mobile.de documented EV search activity tripling during March, climbing from 12% to 36% of total queries
- MarketBeat identifies seven electric vehicle stocks worth monitoring: Tesla, Rivian, NIO, XPENG, Lucid, QuantumScape, and Li Auto
The military conflict in Iran that commenced on February 28 has triggered a significant spike in gasoline costs throughout the European Union. This dramatic price increase is steering consumers toward the pre-owned electric vehicle market — and refocusing investor attention on EV sector equities.
Data from the European Commission reveals that average EU gasoline costs jumped 12% during the period from February 23 through March 16, climbing to €1.84 per litre. The armed conflict has disrupted a critical maritime corridor responsible for transporting approximately 20% of worldwide oil supplies.
France experienced particularly sharp increases, with daily gasoline prices escalating from approximately €1.70 per litre in early 2026 to roughly €2.03 per litre by the middle of March.
Secondhand automobile marketplaces throughout Europe have documented rapidly accelerating interest in electric vehicles. French online retailer Aramisauto reported that its proportion of EV transactions nearly doubled — surging from 6.5% to 12.7% — during the timeframe between the week of February 16 and the week of March 9.
During this identical window, gasoline-powered vehicle sales on the platform declined from 34% to 28%, while diesel vehicle sales dropped from 14% to 10%.
OLX, headquartered in Amsterdam, documented that EV inquiries surged 50% in France, 54% in Portugal, 40% in Romania, and 39% in Poland, with momentum building week after week.
Northern European Markets Experience Sharp EV Interest Spike
German automotive platform mobile.de indicated that EV search volume tripled from 12% to 36% of aggregate vehicle searches following the beginning of March. Automotive dealerships simultaneously received 66% more inquiries regarding used electric vehicles compared with February figures.
In Sweden, marketplace Blocket documented an 11% increase in EV transactions during the initial two weeks of March versus the preceding fortnight. Pageviews for EV advertisements grew 17% throughout the same timeframe.
Norwegian platform Finn.no announced that electric vehicles have surpassed diesel as the site’s top-selling powertrain category. Denmark’s Bilbasen similarly reported climbing EV search activity, attributing the trend primarily to escalating petroleum costs.
Pre-owned electric vehicles typically respond rapidly to fuel price volatility because they cost approximately 40% less than new models and offer immediate availability, contrasting with new vehicles that often require months for delivery.
Investment Community Focuses on Electric Vehicle Equities
As electric vehicle demand accelerates across Europe, MarketBeat’s equity screening tool has identified seven EV-sector stocks demonstrating the strongest recent dollar-volume trading activity within the category.
Tesla engineers and markets electric vehicles and energy solutions throughout the United States, China, and additional international territories. The company additionally operates the Supercharger charging network and generates revenue from automotive regulatory credits.
Rivian Automotive produces electric pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, featuring the R1T pickup truck and the R1S seven-seat SUV.
NIO produces and distributes electric vehicles within China, alongside battery pack systems, electric powertrain components, and battery-exchange infrastructure services.
XPENG engineers intelligent electric vehicles in China, featuring models including the G3 and G9 sport utility vehicles and the P7 sedan, while providing charging infrastructure, financing options, and proprietary software solutions.
Lucid Group engineers and markets electric vehicles together with proprietary EV drivetrain technology, battery management systems, and internally developed software platforms for its vehicle lineup.
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