According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, in the first quarter of 2026 (January–March), the total number of registered vehicles increased by 12.9% compared to the same period in 2025. A total of 13,837 vehicles were registered over the three months, compared to 12,256 a year earlier. March 2026 also showed strong results: 4,817 registrations, which is 8.9% higher than the 4,422 recorded in March 2025. Sales rose particularly in the final month of the quarter — this is traditionally linked to the start of the tourist season, when companies renew their fleets and private buyers aim to purchase cars before summer price increases.
Passenger cars: new and used
In the passenger car (sedan) category, growth for the quarter reached 10.9% — from 9,585 to 10,627 vehicles. Of these, 3,615 were new cars, accounting for 34%. Meanwhile, the share of used cars was significantly higher — 7,012 units or 66%. This indicates that most Cypriots continue to save money and prefer buying pre-owned vehicles. An interesting detail: rental cars saw a decline from 1,027 to 822. This may suggest that the rental market has become saturated after rapid growth in previous years, or that companies are extending the lifespan of older vehicles instead of purchasing new ones.
Environmental trend: hybrids take the lead
The most notable trend in the first quarter of 2026 is the rapid growth in the share of hybrid vehicles. Over the year, it jumped from 42.9% to 50.3%. Now, every second new passenger car in Cyprus is a hybrid. In contrast, the share of petrol cars dropped sharply from 43.2% to 36%. Diesel cars also lost ground, although only slightly — from 9% to 8.8%. Meanwhile, the share of fully electric vehicles remained unchanged at 4.9%. This may be due to the limited number of charging stations in Cyprus, as well as the higher cost of electric vehicles compared to hybrids. The government has announced new subsidies for EV purchases in 2026, but their impact will likely be seen later.
Trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles
The commercial vehicle sector is also growing actively. Truck registrations increased by 19.5% — from 1,448 to 1,731. Heavy trucks showed a sharp rise of 55.3% (from 150 to 233), possibly linked to growth in the construction sector and retail trade. Rental commercial vehicles increased by 43.1% (from 51 to 73), while tractor units rose by 34.1% (from 44 to 59). Light trucks grew by 13.5% (from 1,203 to 1,366). Bus registrations also increased — from 38 to 64. Motorcycles with engine capacity over 50 cc rose by 22.4% (from 973 to 1,191). Meanwhile, low-powered mopeds (up to 50 cc) are rapidly losing popularity: their registrations dropped from 60 to 29, possibly because they are being replaced by electric scooters.
A wide selection of cars on the DOMCar portal.
Photos: pixabay.com
