Rising oil prices linked to US-Israel tensions with Iran are expected to hasten the transition to electric vehicles, according to reporting that cites the South China Morning Post. Crude has climbed above $100 per barrel amid concerns about potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with US President Donald Trump issuing a 48-hour warning regarding Iranian power plants. Analysts including David Brown of Wood Mackenzie describe the oil spike as a potential "game-changer" for EVs by improving their cost competitiveness, particularly in markets with access to low-cost Chinese models; HSBC economist Justin Feng similarly notes that fuel market volatility reinforces EVs as a cost-saving option in price-sensitive Asian economies. At the same time, higher energy costs could raise near-term challenges for EV manufacturing in import-dependent countries such as Thailand, though China's integrated supply chains may allow it to weather such pressures more effectively. China overtook Japan as the world's top vehicle seller in 2025, with exports of 8.32 million vehicles last year including 2.32 million EVs, primarily to Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/iran-conflict-drives-surge-china-ev-demand