Electric Forklift Market Size To Reach $158.81 Billion By 2033

May 2026 | Report Format: Electronic (PDF)

Electric Forklift Market Growth & Trends

The global electric forklift market size is estimated to reach USD 158.81 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Developments in the e-commerce industry are fueling the demand for lift trucks across the economies. Owing to the increase in online shopping, the demand for lift trucks among retailers has escalated in recent years. Electric forklift allows companies to store and distribute merchandise in large quantities, giving them a competitive advantage in their respective markets. Thus, growing demand from several end-use industries is anticipated to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Furthermore, the trend of automation and robotics is expected to gain significant momentum from 2024 to 2030, particularly in warehouses and distribution centers. Automated forklifts are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to move goods more quickly and efficiently than manual forklifts. These automated forklifts enhance productivity as well as reduce the risk of injury and human error, making them a safer option for warehouses and distribution centers.

Several prominent players are expanding their business operations in emerging regions in the global electric forklift industry. Further, companies are planning strategies for product innovation and portfolio expansion through strategic investments and mergers and acquisitions in the global market. For instance, in January 2023, Crown Equipment Corporation expanded its electric and IC counterbalance forklift portfolio with the launch of C-B, C-D, and C-G lift truck series. These forklifts are capable of handling load capacities ranging from 2.0 to 5.5 tons, enabling them to tackle a wide variety of tasks in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The market is expected to grow rapidly from 2024 to 2030 due to the increased adoption of electric forklift technology and an increase in its applications in industries such as food and beverage, chemical, industrial, logistics, construction, retail and e-commerce, and others. As electric forklifts are expected to outpace ICE forklifts, OEMs seek ways to improve forklifts' run-time and performance. Rising environmental concerns and scarcity of natural resources such as natural gas also create the need for a sustainable, efficient, and durable power source to run the electric forklift and long-term renewable energy solution.

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Electric Forklift Market Report Highlights

The pallet trucks segment dominated the market in 2025. Electric pallet trucks are versatile tools that can benefit a wide range of businesses and production processes. They are particularly useful for moving materials in warehouses, supermarkets, and the transport industry, as they can efficiently load and unload goods. Thus, the increasing use of electric pallet trucks to improve overall operational efficiency by streamlining material handling tasks is driving the segment’s growth.
The lithium-ion segment dominated the market in 2025. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the rising demand for lithium-ion-based electric forklifts as they provide benefits such as longer runtimes, faster charging times, and more efficient operation.
The retail & e-commerce segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2033. Factors such as rapid growth of the retail and e-commerce industry and the need for efficient material handling tools can be attributed to the segment’s growth.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2033. The presence of several prominent electric forklift manufacturers, such as Doosan Corporation and Hangcha Forklift, can be attributed to the market growth in the region. In addition, factors such as increasing population in countries such as China and India, rising disposable income, and the evolving material handling needs of the growing e-commerce operations in the region are expected to contribute to the market growth in the region.
In February 2026, Jungheinrich launched the EFG 5 electric counterbalance truck for heavy-duty applications and also introduced new EFG 2/2i and 3/3i electric counterbalance trucks, reinforcing its push into compact and heavy-duty electric forklifts.