Poles buy more cars, especially Chinese models, even used ones
Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- New car sales in Poland exceeded 253,000 units in the first five months of 2026, a 7.4% increase year-on-year.
- Chinese brands, particularly Omoda, are experiencing rapid growth, capturing 12.2% of the market share.
- Toyota remains the market leader, but electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle registrations are also accelerating.
The Polish automotive market is showing robust growth, with new passenger car sales surpassing 253,000 units in the first five months of 2026. This figure represents a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Instytut Samar.
After five months of 2026, sales of new passenger cars in Poland exceeded a quarter of a million (253.1 thousand), growing by 7.4% compared to last year.
While Toyota maintains its leading position with nearly a 15% market share, the most striking trend is the surge in popularity of Chinese automotive brands. Omoda, in particular, has seen its registrations skyrocket by 132.2%, climbing to 15th place in market popularity. Overall, Chinese cars accounted for 12.2% of sales from January to May, a significant jump from just 5.8% in the previous year.
Chinese brands are rapidly increasing in popularity.
Electrification is also gaining momentum. By the end of April 2026, Poland had registered 135,400 fully electric passenger cars and 137,700 plug-in hybrid vehicles. This accelerating shift towards electric mobility indicates a changing landscape in the Polish automotive sector, driven by both consumer demand and the increasing availability of diverse vehicle options, including those from emerging manufacturers.
From January to May, 30,800 cars from China were sold, giving them a market share of 12.2%.
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.