Israel's Auto Market Leaders: Chinese Brands Strengthen Position in 2026
Over 203,000 new cars have been delivered in Israel since the beginning of 2026, a 10% increase year-on-year. Chinese manufacturers hold 6 of the top 10 spots in delivery rankings, while the market share for electric vehicles declines in favor of hybrid systems.
The Israeli automotive market continues to show a high sales pace in mid-2026. During July, 26,481 new cars were delivered, bringing the total since the start of the year to over 203,000 vehicles—an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period in 2025.
According to data from the Israel Vehicle Importers Association, the best-selling brand in Israel year-to-date is Jaecoo (marketed alongside Omoda as Omoda-Jaecoo) with 26,029 deliveries. Chery follows in second place with 21,003, and Toyota in third with 20,752. The top five is rounded out by Hyundai (18,337) and Kia (17,294).
Further down the list are Skoda (14,141), BYD (13,714), MG (8,289), Geely (4,789), and Xpeng (3,503). Consequently, 6 out of the 10 leading brands in Israel are Chinese.
Data indicates that approximately 92,000 cars delivered in Israel this year were manufactured in China, accounting for about 45% of the local market. Among the top 15 Chinese brands, an average delivery growth of 88% was recorded compared to the same period last year.
Conversely, several veteran brands have recorded sharp sales declines. Hyundai and Volkswagen fell by approximately 20%, Subaru by 30%, Peugeot by 33%, and Suzuki and Mitsubishi by 36% and 38% respectively. Nissan lost about 41%, Seat fell by 55%, while Mazda recorded the sharpest decline at approximately 73%.
An analysis of powertrains points to shifting consumer habits. The share of electric vehicles in total deliveries dropped to 12%, down from 16% during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the market share of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) rose from 10% to 24.5%, and regular hybrids grew from 25% to 30%.
In summary, approximately 66% of new cars delivered in Israel in 2026 are equipped with either full electric propulsion or partial electric assistance via hybrid or plug-in hybrid systems.
