The milestone is coming faster than in previous years, as it took until early July to hit 100,000 registrations last year, and until mid-September a year earlier.
Until March, EVs accounted for about 20 percent of new vehicle registrations, or 83,533 units out of 415,746, much higher than 13 percent in 2025 and 8.9 percent in 2024.
The ministry attributed the increase to a wave of new models, fiercer price competition among automakers, expanded government subsidies, and incentives for those switching from internal combustion vehicles.
Some market watchers also pointed to surging fuel prices due to supply disruptions caused by the prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
The trend is likely to continue, as the government's supplementary budget will extend subsidies to an additional 20,000 passenger cars and 9,000 trucks, bringing this year's estimated total to 280,000 passenger cars, 45,000 trucks, and 3,800 buses.
"This year will be recorded as a historic year that opens the era of 1 million electric vehicles," said Minister Kim Sung-hwan, vowing that the government will take steps to ensure EV users face no inconvenience.
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