Hybrid vehicles have officially become the dominant choice for new car buyers in Cyprus.
Recent data from the Statistical Service of Cyprus reveals that hybrids represented 51.7% of all passenger car registrations in the first half of 2026. This marks a notable rise from 43% during the same timeframe in 2025, indicating a significant shift in consumer preferences as more drivers embrace hybrid technology, while petrol and diesel vehicles see a decline in popularity.
Vehicle Registrations Continue to Grow
From January to June 2026, Cyprus saw a total of 29,367 vehicles registered, reflecting a 13.2% increase compared to 25,954 registrations during the first half of 2025.
Within this total, passenger cars accounted for the largest share with 22,597 registrations, marking a 13% increase from 20,004 the previous year.
Breaking down the passenger car registrations:
7,245 were brand-new vehicles.
15,352 were used imports.
This data underscores the significant role of the used-car market in Cyprus, which continues to dominate passenger vehicle registrations.
Hybrids Pass the 50% Milestone
The standout highlight from the latest data is the rapid adoption of hybrid vehicles.
For the first time, hybrids comprised more than half of all passenger cars registered in Cyprus during the first half of the year.
The current market share by powertrain is as follows:
Hybrid: 51.7% (up from 43.0%)
Petrol: 35.2% (down from 43.6%)
Diesel: 8.2% (down from 8.6%)
Electric: 4.9% (slightly up from 4.8%)
While electric vehicle registrations are increasing steadily, hybrids remain the top choice for buyers in Cyprus, offering improved fuel efficiency without the need for complete reliance on public charging infrastructure.
June Continues the Positive Trend
The upward trend continued into June.
During the month, 5,624 vehicles were registered, reflecting a growth of 13.8% over the 4,942 registrations in June 2025.
Passenger cars alone accounted for 4,338 registrations, a rise of 14.8% from 3,780 the previous year.
Rental Cars See a Decline
However, not all market segments are thriving.
Rental car registrations experienced an 11.8% decline, dropping from 2,820 in the first half of 2025 to 2,487 this year.
This decrease suggests that the overall market growth is primarily driven by private buyers rather than fleet operators.
Commercial Vehicles and Motorcycles on the Rise
On a more positive note, commercial vehicle registrations also showed robust growth in the first half of 2026.
Bus registrations rose from 78 to 111 vehicles.
Goods transport vehicles saw an increase of 14.9%, reaching 3,510 registrations.
Within this segment:
Light trucks increased by 12.9% to 2,795.
Road tractors rose by 18.4% to 135.
Heavy trucks climbed by 22.3% to 423.
Rental commercial vehicles increased by 31.9% to 157.
Meanwhile, registrations of mopeds under 50cc declined from 112 to 77.
In contrast, motorcycles over 50cc continued their upward trend, rising 13.4% to 2,681 from 2,364 during the first half of 2025.
What the Numbers Mean
The latest registration figures clearly indicate that Cyprus is transitioning towards electrification, albeit at a different pace than many other European markets.
Rather than making an immediate shift to fully electric vehicles, most buyers are opting for hybrids, which offer a blend of lower fuel consumption with the convenience of traditional refueling.
With hybrids now making up more than half of all new passenger car registrations, they have solidified their status as the preferred powertrain for drivers in Cyprus in 2026.
