The Cyprus Car Market Grows in 2026: What the Numbers Say to Premium Car Buyers

For buyers comparing cars for sale in Cyprus, the points below separate a clean deal from an expensive mistake.

The automotive market in Cyprus started 2026 with significant acceleration. The total number of vehicle registrations in the first four months increased by 15.1% compared to the same period last year — 18,570 units compared to 16,133 in January–April 2025. Private passenger cars — the segment most important for those choosing personal transport — showed growth to 12,866 registrations compared to 10,881 a year earlier. This is an increase of 18.2%.

But the main figure is only half the story. Real changes are happening deeper: in preferences for engine types, brand rankings, and the volumes of the premium segment on the roads of Cyprus.

Hybrids — Now the Standard

The most striking trend in the data is the absolute dominance of hybrid powertrains among private cars. Of the 12,866 registered private passenger cars, 6,603, or 51.3%, turned out to be hybrids. A year earlier, this figure was 43.3%. The share of purely gasoline cars fell to 34.2% (4,404 units), while diesel vehicles plummeted to 8.9% (1,143 units). Fully electric cars accounted for 716 units, or 5.6%.

For anyone bringing a car to Cyprus, the message is crystal clear: hybrid is now the norm, not the exception. The advantage of reduced road tax for hybrid and electric vehicles in Cyprus has irrevocably changed consumer behavior.

Premium Brands: Who Leads

Here’s how leading luxury and premium brands performed in the private passenger car segment from January to April 2026 (new + used):

BMW topped the premium ranking with 914 registrations of private cars — 287 new and 627 used. The brand's hybrid lineup (299 units) and gasoline models (294 units) showed strong results, while diesel held steady at 278 units. Only in Limassol were 362 BMWs registered, making it the brand's main market on the island.

Mercedes-Benz — 805 registrations (218 new, 587 used). Mercedes remains the king of diesel in the premium segment — 359 registrations of diesel cars, reflecting the ongoing popularity of imported used E-Class and S-Class models. Hybrid Mercedes accounted for 311 units — the brand's transition to electrification is in full swing.

Porsche — 190 registrations (85 new, 105 used). Notably, 49 of them are hybrids (likely Cayenne and Panamera PHEV), and 25 are fully electric (Taycan). Limassol accounted for 90 Porsche registrations — almost half of the total on the island, confirming the area’s status as the capital of luxury cars in Cyprus.

Land Rover / Range Rover combined — 268 registrations (258 Land Rover + 10 Range Rover). The share of hybrids is enormous: 153 Land Rovers were hybrids, reflecting the popularity of the Defender and Discovery PHEV.

Lexus — 226 registered cars, of which the overwhelming majority — 217 — are hybrids. This is the highest share of hybrids among all brands on the island. The luxury brand of Toyota continues to dominate the upper mid-premium segment with a complete absence of diesel.

Audi — 305 registrations: hybrids lead (153), followed by gasoline (92) and a growing presence of electric vehicles (19 units).

Volvo — 224 private cars, of which 197 are hybrids. Another brand where electrification has become the main type of drive.

BYD deserves a special mention: 286 registrations, all — absolutely new. 201 fully electric and 85 hybrid. The Chinese newcomer has effectively emerged from nowhere and is now surpassing Porsche, Lexus, and Volvo in absolute numbers. No used BYD vehicles were registered — the entire volume consists of factory cars.

Exotics

The ultra-luxury segment is small but stable. Ferrari — 12 registrations (2 new, 10 used), Lamborghini — 8 (3 new, 5 used), Bentley — 9 (4 new, 5 used), Rolls-Royce — 8 (1 new, 7 used), Maserati — 17 (11 new, 6 used), McLaren — 2, Aston Martin — 3. The lion's share of exotic registrations comes from Limassol.

New and Used: The Import Story

Of the 12,866 registered private passenger cars, only 4,371 (34%) were new. The remaining 8,495 (66%) were imported used cars. This ratio underscores the fundamental reality of the Cypriot market: most cars on the island arrive as used from the UK, Japan, and other markets.

For premium brands, the gap between new and used is particularly significant. BMW: 287 new against 627 used. Mercedes: 218 new against 587 used. Porsche: 85 new against 105 used. This means that for every new premium car sold through a local dealer, about two arrive through import channels — creating enormous opportunities for professional importers capable of finding the right cars at the right price.

What All This Means

The automotive market in Cyprus at the beginning of 2026 is healthy and growing. Buyers are actively updating their cars, choosing hybrids, and the premium segment is expanding faster than the mass market. The channel for importing used cars remains the primary route to car ownership for most residents — especially for those looking for premium cars at competitive prices.

For anyone considering importing a luxury or premium car to Cyprus, the data confirms three things: demand is high, hybrid models are overwhelmingly preferred, and the market for quality used imported cars from the UK and Japan shows no signs of slowing down.

Source of data: Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, report "Vehicle Registration", January–April 2026. Last updated — May 8, 2026.