Chinese Cars Gain Significant Traction in Israel's Used Car Market
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Chinese cars are now attracting significantly more interest in Israel's used car market, with vehicles up to three years old receiving 21% more views on average than a year ago. This surge follows a previous period of lower interest, with brands like BYD and Geely seeing a 62% increase in average views per vehicle. The trend reflects a broader consumer willingness to consider Chinese brands for their next vehicle purchase in the second-hand market.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Used Chinese cars in Israel now receive 21% more views on average than a year ago.
- BYD and Geely vehicles are averaging 62% more views than the used car market average.
- The share of Chinese brands among used cars up to three years old has increased.
- MG and JAC brands also show increased viewer interest in Israel's used car market.
- Chery holds the largest supply share among Chinese brands in the examined used car segment.
Chinese car brands are experiencing a surge in interest within Israel's used car market, reversing a trend from the previous year. Data from September 2026 indicates that used Chinese vehicles, up to three years old, are receiving an average of 21% more views than the market average on the Yad2 platform. This marks a significant turnaround from September 2025, when Chinese cars garnered 14% fewer views than the average.
The shift in consumer interest coincides with an expansion of Chinese brands' presence in the market. Their share among all cars up to three years old listed on Yad2 has grown from 17.5% to 20.5% within a year. This increased supply, coupled with heightened viewer engagement, has boosted the overall visibility of Chinese vehicles.
Among specific brands, BYD and Geely are leading this trend, with each of their vehicles averaging 62% more views than the category average. MG, owned by China's SAIC group, sees a 30% increase in views, while JAC vehicles are up by 14%. Chery stands out for its supply, holding the largest share among Chinese brands in the examined age group, representing 6.4% of all three-year-old or newer cars listed.
This growing interest reflects a broader change in the Israeli consumer's approach to car purchasing. "The Israeli consumer is now examining a wide variety of brands, and no longer encounters the Chinese car only in the showroom, but also examines it as one of the options for his next car in the second-hand market," noted a representative from Yad2. The analysis encompasses listings from both private sellers and dealers, comparing data from September 2026 to September 2025. It's important to note that these view counts indicate user interest and do not necessarily translate to actual purchases.
