800V Platforms power next wave of EV growth
Global EV traction inverter deployments held firm in 1Q26 as automakers continued adopting high-voltage powertrain designs to improve efficiency, charging speed and vehicle performance.
TrendForce's recent report on EV traction inverters shows that in the first quarter of 2026, traditionally the industry's slowest season, global installations reached around 6.82 million units, a 1.9 percent increase from 6.69 million units in the same period of 2025. These figures suggest that the electrification push remains strong despite lower seasonal demand, highlighting the resilience of the EV market.
Global traction inverter installations reached approximately 32.35 million units in 2025, representing growth of 18.9 percent from 27.21 million units in 2024. TrendForce forecasts installations to rise further to 36.4 million units in 2026, reflecting annual growth of 12.5 percent.
Regionally, China's EV sales declined 19 percent year-on-year during the quarter, while Western Europe recorded 28 percent growth, making it the primary contributor to global market expansion.
BEVs remained the dominant platform for traction inverter deployment, with installations reaching approximately 3.49 million units in 1Q26. This accounted for about 51 percent of total installations. PHEVs and REEVs contributed approximately 1.65 million units, while HEVs accounted for roughly 1.68 million units. These figures underscore the continued coexistence of multiple electrification technologies across the automotive market.
The industry's migration toward higher-voltage architectures remains evident. Installations of systems operating above 550V, typically associated with 800V vehicle platforms, reached approximately 920,000 units in 1Q26. This represents growth of 21 percent from 760,000 units a year earlier.
Meanwhile, silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET-based traction inverter installations increased 7.4 percent year-on-year to approximately 1.17 million units. The growing adoption of both high-voltage platforms and SiC-based inverters is helping improve vehicle power efficiency, charging performance and overall system effectiveness.
TrendForce estimates that the ASP of traction inverters in 1Q26 was approximately US$531 per unit, slightly below US$546 in the previous quarter. Notably, pricing remained largely unaffected by recent increases in power semiconductor costs.
Several factors contributed to this stability. Market competition remained intense during the seasonal slowdown, while suppliers continued to benefit from inventories acquired at lower historical costs. In addition, some vendors appear willing to absorb higher component costs in the short term to preserve market share.
TrendForce cautions that sustained cost pressures could test the profitability of both automakers and suppliers over the longer term. Several automakers have already announced vehicle price increases during 2Q26. Whether these cost increases ultimately translate into higher pricing for traction inverters will become clearer in the next quarterly report.
