Robust Growth In Overall Registrations
Vehicle registrations in the first five months of 2026 experienced a significant 13.0% increase compared to the same period in 2025. With a total of 23,743 vehicles registered against 21,012 the previous year, the latest data from the Statistical Service underscores a healthy market dynamic. May 2026 alone saw 5,173 registrations, up 6.0% from 4,879 recorded in May 2025.
Shifting Trends In Passenger Car Sales
The passenger car segment reported a noteworthy 7.7% rise in sales for May 2026, with registrations increasing from 3,715 to 4,000. Over the January-May period, total passenger car sales grew 12.5%, reaching 18,259 compared to 16,224 in 2025. This category was marked by a diversified portfolio, with 33.5% of vehicles being new and 66.5% classified as used vehicles. Meanwhile, registrations of rental vehicles declined by 14.2%, dipping from 2,197 to 1,884.
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Fuel type analysis further highlights market shifts. The share of gasoline-powered vehicles contracted from 43.7% to 35.4%, and diesel-powered vehicles saw a modest reduction from 8.8% to 8.3%. In contrast, electric vehicles increased their market share from 4.7% to 5.0%, while hybrids surged substantially from 42.9% to 51.3% during the January-May period.
Dynamic Developments In Commercial Vehicles and Motorcycles
The commercial vehicle segment also reported impressive gains. Bus registrations increased from 63 units to 102, while cargo vehicles grew by 15.4% from 2,474 to 2,854. Breaking down the data further, light trucks increased by 11.5% (from 2,253 units), road tractors by 16.8% (from 111 units), heavy trucks by 32.1% (from 358 units), and rental commercial vehicles exhibited a remarkable growth of 51.7%, rising from 132 units.
Motorcycle registrations revealed mixed results. Models below 50cc dropped from 101 to 55 registrations, while larger motorcycles above 50cc surged by 15.3%, climbing from 1,864 to 2,149.
