**SUVs Dominate Global Car Market Despite Environmental Concerns**

**In 2024, Sport Utility Vehicles constituted 54% of global car sales, countering projections for smaller electric vehicles to dominate.**

Across the globe, an increasing prevalence of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) has emerged, despite predictions of a shift to smaller, more environmentally sustainable vehicles due to the pressing climate crisis and the surging cost of living. According to GlobalData, SUVs accounted for 54% of all car sales in 2024, representing a rise of three percentage points from 2023 and five from the previous year. Notably, a staggering 95% of these vehicles, whether new or old, are powered by fossil fuels, warns the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Manufacturers argue that advancements toward electric models are being made, claiming that not all current SUV models lead to increased emissions. SUVs are characterized by their larger structure, spacious interiors, enhanced ground clearance, and elevated driving positions, providing a better view of the road. Meanwhile, environmental groups like Greenpeace have cast SUVs as major contributors to the climate emergency, noting significant resource consumption for their production due to their size.

As consumer preferences shift towards practicality and comfort, experts indicate that the purchasing power has surged in many rapidly developing economies, favoring SUVs. Industry insiders note that manufacturers are capitalizing on the high-profit margins SUVs offer, despite producing fewer units. According to communications manager Dudley Curtis at the European Transport Safety Council, aggressive marketing has shaped consumer preferences toward more expensive models that deliver similar functionality.

The IEA reports that oil consumption by SUVs has surged by 600,000 barrels per day from 2022 to 2023, accounting for over a quarter of the total rise in global oil demand. Astonishingly, if ranked as a nation, the global SUV fleet would be the fifth largest emitter of CO2, surpassing emissions from Japan and other significant economies. With road transport contributing more than 12% of worldwide carbon emissions—an essential factor in global warming—the need for decarbonization across all sectors is ever more urgent.

Despite these alarming trends, industry representatives maintain that a portion of SUVs sold are now zero-emission, with 20% of new models being entirely electric in 2023, a steep climb from 2% in 2018. However, a study highlighted that plug-in hybrids, including SUVs, typically operate in electric mode for only about 30% of their total driving distance, raising questions regarding their actual environmental benefits.

In light of these findings, the growing popularity of SUVs is seen by many experts as a significant hindrance to the decarbonization of the transport sector, suggesting that the trend towards heavier, less efficient vehicles erodes the gains made in energy consumption and emissions across the broader automotive landscape. The UK Parliament's climate change committee echoed these concerns in a 2024 report regarding the country's decarbonization efforts.