Tensions in the Gulf have driven international oil prices up, and the sales of electric motorcycles in developing markets continue to rise. A senior executive from Pakistan said that the war with Iran has made U.S. President Trump the "Best Salesperson of the Year."
According to a report by The New York Times on August 11th, three years ago, electric motorcycles were hardly seen in Pakistan. Today, new brands are emerging every week across the country. The number of electric motorcycle companies has increased to approximately 84, and this number is still rising.
These enterprises include both small-scale startups that operate with little capital and receive venture capital support, as well as established companies that quickly joined the market after spotting potential. Even Pakistan's Mercedes-Ferguson tractor manufacturers plan to launch a line of electric motorcycles.
According to statistics from market intelligence firm MotorCycles Data, the sales of electric two-wheelers in Pakistan increased by 173% in the first half of this year. The company attributed this surge to rising oil prices and government subsidy programs. Hamza Asad, director of sales at Evee, the country’s largest electric vehicle seller, said that between April and June of this year alone, 90,000 electric two-wheelers were sold, while the total annual sales in 2025 will be only 112,000 units.
This trend indicates that, as the Iran war continues to drive up oil prices, developing countries are accelerating their efforts to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
"If all these people switch to electric vehicles, even if there are 500 companies, it wouldn't be enough." said Moumtazz Houssein, the national sales manager of Eveon electric motorcycle brand.
Most electric motorcycle manufacturers in Pakistan use parts produced in China. A few companies use frames and tires made domestically, but batteries and motors are imported from China.
Reports say that electric motorcycles are a key indicator of war-driven changes. In poorer countries, people are most sensitive to energy price shocks, and two-wheeled vehicles are much more common than cars. Although the purchase cost of electric models is usually higher than that of gasoline models, the rising oil prices give electric vehicles a significant advantage: charging batteries is cheaper than filling up gas tanks.
Trump is the biggest salesman, the best salesman of the year. The general manager of Yamaha's Pakistan branch, Muhammad Salman, said that after Trump decided to attack Iran, demand for non-fuel motorcycles surged significantly in the market.
Scenes similar to this also occur in other developing countries.
In Vietnam, the sales of electric vehicles by VinFast, the largest local manufacturer, have been soaring. In Kenya, Gagan Gupta, the founder of Africa's largest electric vehicle company Spiro, said that about 25% to 35% of new motorcycle sales are electric models. The energy impact “has doubled all those figures.”
