Bangladesh’s electric vehicle (EV) market has been on a steady growth path over the past few years, but recent fuel scarcity since March has given the sector an additional boost, accelerating both consumer interest and sales across segments.
Industry insiders say demand for electric two-wheelers, four-wheelers, plug-in hybrids and hybrids was already rising due to cost advantages, expanding model availability and gradual policy support.
The fuel shortage, however, has further pushed consumers toward electric mobility.
“Amid the fuel crisis, booking of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hybrid cars has increased around 30 percent,” an EV brand official told TIMES of Bangladesh, noting that the surge built on an already improving market trend.
Electric two-wheeler sales saw a sharper jump. Revoo deputy sales manager Abu Jafar Bhuiyan said sales nearly doubled in March, rising from around 1,400 units in February to approximately 2,700 units.
He said the increase was driven by both Eid-ul-Fitr demand and fuel scarcity, which together influenced consumer behaviour.
“Many riders are purchasing electric bikes as secondary vehicles for inner-city transportation,” he said, adding that first-time buyers are also increasingly considering EVs due to their lower running costs.
On the four-wheeler side, global EV brand BYD reported early traction, selling 25 units on the launch day of its Sealion 5 on March 2.
The company is preparing to introduce the Seal 5 in Bangladesh next month, with pricing expected below Tk40 lakh.
Although still at an early stage, Bangladesh’s electric car market has shown steady expansion, growing from just four units in 2021 to 469 in 2025.
Industry stakeholders say this reflects a gradual but sustained shift rather than a sudden spike.
“This year is expected to be a turning point for EVs,” said Sazzad Hossain, Lead of Offline Marketing at BYD Bangladesh.
However, despite rising demand, Bangladesh’s limited charging infrastructure remains a key bottleneck for faster EV adoption. Public charging stations are still sparse, with most users relying on home charging.
As a result, limited charging access and range anxiety continue to discourage many potential buyers, particularly for long-distance travel.
In the upcoming budget discussions, industry insiders expect the government to further adjust its electric vehicle policy, with proposals under consideration that may include revised tax structures and modified incentive packages for EV adoption.
Anisuzzaman Choudhury, executive director of Meghna Car Manufacturing – Kia Automobiles, said the company is planning to introduce electric vehicles following the national budget in June–July, signalling further expansion in the segment.
While Bangladesh’s EV market was already on a steady upward trajectory driven by cost efficiency and expanding model availability, the recent fuel scarcity has acted as a short-term catalyst, accelerating adoption and pulling forward purchase decisions.
