Slovakia Passenger Car Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

June registrations were up 6% in June but down 4% YTD. Škoda sells one in five cars here, twice as good as Volkswagen's one in ten. Between them one in three and they both improved market share, albeit slightly. 

Hyundai and Kia have 15% of the market between them but that is down a sizable two percentage points on 2025. Suzuki had a 37% jump in its share but Mercedes-Benz and BMW are having a subdued YTD. I'm surprised Tesla has only just arrived. 

Four Škoda models sell in strong numbers. The Octavia (1,949), Fabia (1,294), Kamiq (1,207) and Karoq (1,201). The Totota Corolla (1,205) also sells well. 

Data source: ZAP. Photos: Suzuki Swift & Tesla Model Y. 

Australia China PC/LCV Brands: 2025-26 (H1)

In 2026, Chinese brand penetration was 20.4% and for H1 2026 27.3%. The majority of cars arriving in Australia are manufactured in China, some for legacy brands. 

The big brand in Australia is Toyota and has been number one for 23 consecutive years, since 2003.  It has had supply issues but extra shipments are being arranged to minimize wait times. This has allowed rival brands like BYD to gain significant gains in the meantime. 

BYD is making sure supply isn't an issue for them and is closing in on a brand that looked to have a permanent seat at the top of the charts. It's currently in second place. GWM (Haval, Tank, Ora & GWM Ute), Chery and MG are all strong brands here with others ready to join them. 

Data source: FCAI, Car Expert.
Photo sources: Zeekr Australia (X) & BYD Australia (Denza B8).

Maserati Global Sales: 2023-26 (H1)

With the marque going up market, it was inevitable that deliveries would fall in the transition period. As we see from 2023 to the halfway point of 2026, volume has been falling dramatically. The 2026 37% drop is a YOY comparison. 

For the 2012-25 article, simply click here. 

Israel China PC Brands: 2025-26 (H1)

When it comes to cars, Israel looks to Asia. It was Japan and Korea but now there is also China. Cars with some sort of electric propulsion are also popular and that suits Chinese car makers. 

In 2026, the total for Chinese brands was 29.7% and for H1 2026 43.9%. The top two places are currently held by Jaecco/Omoda brands combined and Chery. They also have six of the top ten places. As Israel intends to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, surely the swing to Chinese brands will continue. 

Data source: Israel Vehicle Importers Association.
Photos: Changan (Deepal SO7) & GAC (Aion V).

USA Light Vehicle Sales: 2025-26 (Jan-Jun)

US light vehicle sales are down around or slightly above the 3% mark. If the figures below are rounded, then they are educated estimates or the way they are released by the car company. Otherwise they are exact numbers per the car company. 

Toyota is gradually pulling away at the top from Ford and Chevrolet. The next four Asian brands have all increased their share. 

There are small brands like Morgan that don't report sales, although Morgan for example could be about 150 sales in H1 2026.

If you are wondering why the usual influx of new Chinese brands aren't listed, it's because they haven't arrived. As this list is compiled from each car brand's press releases, I'm glad they haven't arrived. It's a big enough job as it is without more brands.  

Data source: Car companies. 
Photos: Ford Maverick, Nissan Sentra & Tesla Y.

UK Passenger Car Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were up 11% in June and 9% YTD. The current top six all lost market share on 2025. Mercedes managed to climb three places despite a 1% fall due to Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai all dropping more. This Nissan's lowest ranking since 1971 when they were named Datsun. Hopefully, the second half of the year will be more successful.   

Chinese brands are making their presence felt but for now only MG has managed to enter the top ten. How far they will go is a moot point. With EVs taking 30% of registrations in June and 25% YTD, one would think Chinese brands will relish the opportunity to capitalise on that. 

Data source: SMMT. Photos: Nissan Sunderland & Omoda. 

Israel PC Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations are up 11.5% YTD, with Jaecoo/Omoda establishing itself at the top. With Chery moving into second spot, Toyota is uncharacteristically elbowed out of the way. Hyundai has likewise suffered that indignity. 

Hybrid cars make up 54.8% of total sales and EVs 12.2%. Combined, that's two thirds of all registrations. Chinese brands have benefited from that uptake. 

Mazda was the top brand here as recently as 2010, but is now 24th. Hyundai and recently Toyota took the top spot. Will they ever get it back?

Data source: Israel Vehicle Importers Association.
Photos: Jaecoo Israel (J7) & Geely Israel (Starray).

France Passenger Car Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were up 11% in June and 2% YTD. Renault has established a healthy lead over Peugeot. Renault owned Dacia is next, having lost 6% market share and is close to being overtaken by Citroën. Tesla has moved up ten places and is safely ensconced in the top ten. 

Chinese brands are establishing themselves here, offering value in the EV segment. For now, just to are in the top twenty, MG and BYD. Others are arriving but how far they get remains to be seen. 

 France gives EVs subsidies depending on the carbon used to build the car and ship it to France. Chinese car brands rely heavily on coal power, and shipping cars to Europe adds more carbon. This effectively disqualifies many Chinese models from receiving the cash rebate. If EVs are bought to help the environment, then it makes sense. 

Data source: CCFA.
Photo sources: Renault (Symbioz) & Citroën (e-C3).

Australia Car/ LCV Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were up 10% in June and up 1% YTD. China is now the largest supplier of vehicles, deposing Japan. The speed of the transition would have caught the industry by supprise. Toyota had a sizable drop due to supply issues but also mounting competition. Chinese brands are pushing hard but Toyota is confident it will have 20% market share come December. I wouldn't bet against that.

BYD is working hard to ensure a good supply, even using its own ships to achieve that objective. GWM covers different brands within the company. I was separating them but not now, due to the effort but also getting the data to do so may not now be possible. Sometimes, I try too hard. 

A few brands don't report sales, so aren't listed. The 2025 share below is for the complete year and includes Mahindra, a brand yet to report in 2026. Xpeng has taken over distribution of its cars and in the interim, sales have fallen sharply. 

Data source: FCAI, Car Expert.
Photo sources: Ford Australia (Ranger) & GWM Australia (Haval H6).

USA Electric Vehicle Sales: 2023-2026 (H1)

Some people love them, others dismiss them, while some even dislike them. The electric car. Wherever you sit on the spectrum, they are here to varying degrees depending on where you live. 

The US is a very large car market so are electric cars having much impact there? Federal Electric Vehicle purchase incentives were put in place to entice buyers. Did it work?

2023: US EV sales reached just over 1.2 million, up 46.3%. Tesla contributed 54% of the total. The future looked electric even though at this point they accounted for about 7.5% of all sales.

2024: The total crept up to 1.3 million, up 7.3%. Tesla was the major brand with nearly 50% of the total. Were there signs that a ceiling was being reached?

2025: The national $7,500 new EV and $4,000 used EV incentives ended on September 30, 2025. It left buyers primarily relying on individual state rebates. Coming late in the year, it didn't have a huge impact but a 2% drop in the total showed it did have an effect. 

2026: Half way through the year and with numbers down 23%, it would seem that a lowering of incentives has impacted. Fossil fuel prices are up so will some switch to EVs as a result? Early indicators suggest not too many as yet. 

So EVs still need incentives to encourage some to join the movement. They also aren't practical for many either so even incentives won't sway a sizable number anyway. They are here to stay but in places where incentives don't exist or are limited, they remain an unlikely purchase. 

Data source: Cox Automotive. Photos: Tesla 3, Rivian R2.

Brazil PC/LCV Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were up 28% in June and 20% YTD. That's quite an increase considering the size of the numbers involved. Various sources need to be accessed to put the list below and none quite match the each other. 

Legacy brands are feeling the heat from a wave of Chinese entrants. Most have lost share while most Chinese brands ahve gained ground. To be a large player, there needs to be local assembly to avoid tariffs and they are doing just that. 

Fiat is still top, ahead of Volkswagen and GM. VW easily sold more cars than Fiat, but the latter is very dominant in LCVs so is top overall. As this data includes light commercial vehicles, that lessens the impact of what legacy brands are losing. They still have a strong presence in that area. 

Data sources: Mainly Anfavea, Fenebrave. 
Photo source: Fiat Brazil (Fastback) & VW Brazil (Tiguan). 

Uruguay Passenger Car Sales : 2026 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were up 28% YTD with 26,790 cars and SUVs delivered. Chinese brands are taking over and that's not unexpected. Value pricing is tempting everywhere. 

BYD has taken the top spot for the second year. It replaced Chevrolet in 2025 when it doubled its sales while Chevrolet slipped by 17%. Things are settling down now. Total volume is up 28% and BYD had a 12% increase in market share, so still going well.

Volkswagen and Hyundai are both well down as is Renault. Geely and Dongfeng  are not far off replacing them. That's a trend that happening right down the list.

Photos: Chevrolet Uruguay (Onix & Tracker).