Chinese Cars Dominate Israeli Market, Capturing Nearly Half of New Registrations
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Chinese car registrations in Israel rose 44.2% to 46.5% of the market.
- OMODA-JACO became the leading car brand in Israel.
- South Korea and Japan saw their market share decrease.
- Several established brands experienced sharp declines in registrations.
- Registration data may not reflect direct sales to consumers.
Chinese-made vehicles have significantly increased their market share in Israel, now accounting for nearly half of all new car registrations. From the beginning of the year until October 4, 2026, 118,740 vehicles originating from China were registered, a substantial 44.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This surge has propelled China's share of the Israeli car market to 46.5%.
In contrast, traditional automotive powerhouses have seen their market presence diminish. South Korea's share dropped to 15.6% with 39,745 registrations, while Japan's share fell to 10.4% with 26,511 registrations. The top five countries, including the Czech Republic and France, now account for 84.1% of all new vehicle registrations.
Among individual brands, OMODA-JACO has emerged as the leading brand in Israel, registering 32,383 vehicles, a 147% increase from the previous year. Other strong performers include BYD, with a 52.9% rise in registrations to 17,701, and MG, which saw a 52.2% increase to 11,453. Geely more than doubled its registrations, and Tesla also experienced growth.
Conversely, several established brands have experienced sharp declines. Mazda registrations plummeted by nearly 70%, while Nissan, Mitsubishi, SEAT, and Suzuki also saw significant drops. Hyundai, once a dominant player, recorded a 17.6% decrease in registrations.
In the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz saw a sharp increase in registrations. BMW experienced a slight decrease, while Lexus and Audi saw increases and slight decreases, respectively. High-end brands like Porsche, Bentley, and Ferrari registered a small number of vehicles, with Aston Martin and Maserati selling none.
It is important to note that these registration figures should be interpreted with caution. In the previous year, some numbers were influenced by the practice of "ageing vehicles," where cars were registered before being sold to end consumers and later marketed as new. While this effect appears reduced this year, the data still reflects official registrations rather than direct sales to private consumers.
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