Registrations were down 6% in April but up 5% YTD. Škoda is in its fourth year at the top, having dethroned VW. Renault was at the top in 2003 and while it's along way form regaining that position, at least it's having success in 2026.
So too are Chinese brands, somewhat late to the party but starting to arrive in numbers. With poor sales at home, targeting exports is a way to keep factories gainfully employed.
Photo; Renault.
Import duty on fully built up vehicle has given local manufacturers protection. It's complicated. Vehicles imported from MERCOSUR nations (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia) are tariff free. Mexico (quota-based) and Ecuador have reduced or zero tariffs on light vehicles.
Up to 50,000 units of electric and hybrid vehicles can be imported tariff free annually. This especially benefits vehicles from China but how the 50k limit is applied if reached I'm unsure. It could explain why the top brands have reduced market share.
Data source: ACARA. Photo: VW (Amarok).
The data from here is variable, to put it politely. It depends on importers reporting and that is inconsistent. So while registrations are down, too much volume isn't available to make a call on that.
BYD reported registrations in 2025 but not so far this year. The same applies to GAC. Vinfast's figure below is for March only. Many smaller imported brands have never been included but their numbers will be tiny.
2026 market share figures are improved by the omission of some from 2025. The 2025 share is for the complete year. Despite that, Toyota is the dominant brand anyway.
Data: Campi. Photos: Toyota (Wigo & Innova).
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| 2019 Maserati Ghibli (Netcarshow) |
I had detailed production figures (blue background) for Maserati from way back until 2020 when the source dried up. Since then, delivery figures (pink background) are used. I pick up the story from 2012, when things took off.
2016 had another lift in volume with the introduction of the Levante SUV. Things then tapered off into the pandemic of 2020. There was a rebound in 2021 which lasted three years.
With the recent withdrawal of the Levante and Ghibli models, delivery numbers slumped. The small Grecale SUV was introduced along with the reintroduced Gran Turismo.
The Grecale was supposed to offset the above departures but it has fallen well short of what it was supposed to achieve. So where to next?
The marque is apparently being repositioned as a luxury, bespoke build to order manufacture. Electric will also be the direction taken. I see similarities with Jaguar.
The Maserati brothers founded the company in 1914, but they didn't make cars. Car manufacturing only starting in 1947. The four subsequent owners have had varied results. It will be interesting to see if it can make a go of the top end luxury market.
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| 2023 Maserati Grecale (Netcarshow) |
Using Geely technology and starting to take an interest in exports, Proton is looking up. Q1 2026 is up 40% despite the Malaysian market being down 3%. It took 26% of the total market, the highest since 2011.
Picture source: Proton.
Panamá has many brands, a trend that is happening in many countries. The arrival of Chinese ones is the reason. Toyota is still the choice for nearly one in five buyers, Hyundai and Kia one in eight. Yet there must be some loss of sales, perhaps spread evenly across all the legacy brands.
The 212 is a rugged off road jeep style vehicle made by BAW. As the picture shows, it's ideal in jungle and that covers a large part of the country. Rox is another Chinese brand, which makes premium electric SUV's. As seen below, not so much for conquering jungle as glamping.
Registrations were up 10% in April but down 2% YTD. Toyota continues its dominance, despite not competing in the large Kei class. Japanese brands generally did well, while imports mostly lost market share. Imports are down 7% YTD.
Tesla's figure is an estimate, based on extras less what is likely. It certainly is having a good year so far. Chrysler, GM and Ford aren't doing well. Jaguar says sayonara until the super luxury reincarnation arrives.
Data source: JAMA, JAIA. Photos: Toyota bZ4X & Nissan Serena.
Hyundai/Kia/Genesis has 73.3% of the market between them. That's what protectionism gives you. Boring for car buyers maybe, but good for the economy. The imports that can afford to import are of the premium variety.
Kia got passed Hyundai in an 'exciting' race at the top. Tesla is doing well this year as is new arrival BYD, the latter only in its second year here. Smaller US brands Jeep, Ford, Cadillac and Lincoln all declined. GMC was the exception.
Some lower volume marques choose not to release sales figures, but this list gives a good overall coverage of the market.
Data source: KAMA, KAIDA. Photo: Tesla Y.
It's difficult to say whether the market is growing as some larger players are not reporting. BYD and GAC haven't been, while Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda pulled out after reporting last year. In 2026, imported Chinese cars had tariffs increased from 20 to 50%. China called the move protectionist and seeing as they have various duties to limit imports, they should know.
Nissan maintains its long standing leadership here. Chevrolet likewise is a popular brand with 12.4% share. Five of the top six lost some market share.
Data source: AMDA. Photos: Nissan Sentra & Chevrolet Tracker.
Registrations were up 218% in April and +143% in the first four months of the year. That is based on a poor start to 2025 (down 44%), so it accentuates the positive in a way that could be a little exaggerated. The 2025 share below is for a full year. The sort of increase in 2026 makes the share +/- column look worse than it is.
Toyota was the best selling brand here for some time, with 2019 being the last year it was ranked #1. With electric cars now being so popular and Chinese brands aggressively active in this, a special administrative region of China, a comeback seems unlikely.
Looking at the top brands in more detail.
Tesla: Y (2,460) and 3 (1,972) are the two models sold here.
BYD: Atto 2 (1,911) and Sealion 7 (1,451) make up 90% of the total.
GAC Aion: UT (1,169), ES (885) and Y (586) lead the way.
Zeekr: 7X (1,882) and 009 (553) account for 98% of sales.
Toyota: bZ3X (1,342) does 80% of the registrations on its own.
Data source: HK Transport Department.
Picture source: Zeekr (X) and GAC Aion (ES) Hong Kong.
Regions: The Americas is where most cars are delivered. 38% of the total went there in Q1, for an 11% uncrease. Europe, Middle East and Africa combine to account for 28%. The Asia and Pacific region now make up 20%. The UK registered just 14%, which as a percentage is probably the lowest ever. That isn't an issue to rely less on the home market.
Registrations were up 3% in 2026. Things tend to be very stable here, unruffled even. It's financial sector accounts for nearly a third of GDP, although they does want to diversify the economy.
German brands hold the top four places here. Then one could also add German owned Škoda to take all five leading brands. Chinese brands are yet to have much impact, although the ever growing 'Other' figure - which isn't revealed to us - could contain many brands from that source.
Data source: Statistiques Luxembourg.
Registrations were up 17% for the first quarter. The figures includes preliminary April data so that may slightly affect that. VW as always is on top with 14.5% share. I've noticed Dacia is reducing its volume and it is so consistent, it must be a policy. Is it shifting away from value pricing?
Chinese brands are arriving although only BYD has has had a major impact so far. Legacy brands will be feeling uneasy.
Data source: Statistik Austria.
This covers cars sold to private citizens only. The main exclusion is for rental cars. Registrations were down 10%. Kia is the leading brand, with Nissan pushing up into second place. BYD is on a mission and is now seventh. There aren't many Chinese brands here yet either. BAIC has just arrived and won't be the last.
Data source: Cystat.
Norway hasn't been big on this site but a Top 30 just makes the cut. The share data below compares four months of 2025 with 2026. It's quite tumultuous for a sizable market. It's also uniquely electric, with the highest penetration of such vehicles in the world. Tesla is the best selling brand, ahead of Toyota and a fast falling Volkswagen. Chinese brands specialise in EVs and are making a mark although you would have to think they have plenty of desire to gain still more success.
Data source: OFV. Photos: Tesla (3 & Y).
