The Cypriot automotive market continues to show steady growth. During the first five months of 2026, passenger car registrations increased by 12.5% compared to the same period last year. Experts note that demand is being supported by both private buyers and growing interest in more economical and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Particularly strong growth was recorded in May, when 4,000 passenger cars were registered on the island compared to 3,715 a year earlier. This indicates that the market remains highly active despite inflationary pressures and rising prices for new vehicles.
Toyota Remains the Undisputed Leader
Toyota continues to be the most popular automotive brand in Cyprus. During the first five months of 2026, 4,053 Toyota vehicles were registered on the island. The Japanese manufacturer confidently maintains its leading position thanks to its extensive hybrid lineup, strong reliability, and relatively low running costs.
Among Cypriot buyers, the most popular models include the Toyota Yaris, Corolla, C-HR, and RAV4. These vehicles consistently rank among the best-selling models in both the new-car market and the imported used-car segment.
Mazda occupies second place with 2,052 registrations. It is followed by Nissan with 1,436 vehicles, BMW with 1,158, and Mercedes-Benz with 995 registrations. Other popular brands include Kia with 747 registrations, Honda with 702, Volkswagen with 520, Hyundai with 400, Audi with 381, and the rapidly growing Chinese manufacturer BYD with 375 vehicles.
Hybrids Have Become the New Standard
One of the defining trends of 2026 is the rapid rise in hybrid vehicle popularity. Their market share has reached 51.3%, compared to less than 43% a year ago.
In practical terms, every second vehicle purchased in Cyprus today is equipped with a hybrid powertrain. This trend is driven by a combination of fuel efficiency, lower operating costs, and freedom from dependence on charging infrastructure, which still remains unevenly developed across parts of the island.
At the same time, the share of fully electric vehicles continues to grow and has now reached 5% of the market. Although still relatively modest, interest in EVs is steadily increasing thanks to the expansion of charging networks and the arrival of new models.
Against this backdrop, petrol-powered vehicles continue to lose market share. Their share has fallen to 35.4%, while diesel-powered vehicles now account for just 8.3% of registrations.
Which New Cars Are Selling Best?
New vehicles accounted for 33.5% of the market. During the first five months of the year, 6,112 new passenger cars were registered, of which 5,481 were intended for private use.
In this category, Kia emerged as the leader with 717 registrations. The South Korean brand secured first place thanks to its combination of competitive pricing, modern equipment, and long warranty coverage.
Nissan ranked second with 519 new vehicle registrations. It was followed by Toyota with 422 registrations, China's BYD with 372, and Volkswagen with 370 vehicles. The top ten also included BMW with 357 registrations, Hyundai with 351, Mercedes-Benz with 272, Renault with 234, and Jeep with 213 vehicles.
Analysts are paying particular attention to BYD, which continues to strengthen its position in the Cypriot market. The company has already become one of the leading brands in the new-car segment and remains among the fastest-growing manufacturers on the island.
Used Cars Continue to Dominate
Despite growing sales of new vehicles, used cars still make up the majority of the market. They account for 66.5% of all registrations. Between January and May 2026, Cyprus registered 12,147 used vehicles, of which 10,805 were intended for private ownership.
Toyota also dominates this segment with 3,631 registrations. It is followed by Mazda with 2,026 vehicles, Nissan with 917, BMW with 801, and Mercedes-Benz with 723 registrations.
The popularity of used Japanese vehicles remains exceptionally strong due to their reliability and the large volume of imports from the Japanese market.
What Lies Ahead for the Cypriot Car Market?
Experts predict continued growth in the popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles. Against the backdrop of European environmental policies and gradually tightening emissions regulations, traditional petrol and diesel vehicles are expected to continue losing ground to cleaner technologies.
Toyota, which was among the first manufacturers to invest heavily in hybrid technology, continues to benefit the most from this trend. As a result, the Japanese brand maintains a commanding lead in the Cypriot market and remains the preferred choice for thousands of buyers across the island.
A wide selection of vehicles is available on the DOMCar portal.
Photos: pixabay.com, DOM
