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Polish New Car Market Grows, Businesses Favor Used Cars Amid Economic Uncertainty
🇵🇱 Poland /Economy & Trade

Polish New Car Market Grows, Businesses Favor Used Cars Amid Economic Uncertainty

From Rzeczpospolita · (37m ago) Polish

Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Polish new car market saw a 6.7% increase in registrations in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, with March showing a particularly strong performance.
  • Companies dominate new car purchases, accounting for 66.3% of registrations in March, a figure potentially higher when including sole proprietorships and civil partnerships.
  • Amid economic uncertainty, businesses, especially SMEs, are increasingly opting for used cars, particularly those up to five years old, due to financial benefits and remaining manufacturer warranties.

The Polish automotive market is demonstrating resilience, with Rzeczpospolita reporting a solid 6.7% growth in new car registrations for the first quarter of 2026. March, in particular, stood out with a remarkable year-on-year increase of over 20%, marking the best March on record. Analysts attribute this surge to traditional year-end model clearances and manufacturers' fiscal year-end sales pushes.

Such a good result is related on the one hand to the finalization of traditional purchases within the clearance of cars from the past model year in the first quarter of the year. On the other hand, for many car manufacturers, the end of the first quarter is also the end of the fiscal year, hence the desire to achieve the best possible results that can be attributed to the past year.

— Samar analystsExplaining the strong performance in new car registrations in March.

However, the data reveals a significant trend: corporate buyers are the primary drivers of the new car market, making up nearly two-thirds of registrations. This dominance is even more pronounced when considering that sole proprietorships and civil partnerships are often registered under individual buyers. This highlights the crucial role businesses play in the automotive sector, especially in Poland's economic landscape.

In a difficult economic situation and with uncertainty about its further development, not every entrepreneur can afford to finance a new company car. A monthly loan or lease installment may exceed the company's capabilities.

— Article textDescribing the financial challenges businesses face when considering new car purchases.

Beyond new car sales, the article points to a growing preference for used vehicles among businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Faced with economic uncertainty and the high cost of new vehicles, which can depreciate up to 50% in the first three years, companies are seeking more financially prudent alternatives. The used car market, especially for vehicles under five years old with low mileage and potentially remaining warranties, offers a compelling solution. This shift underscores a pragmatic approach by Polish businesses to manage costs while maintaining a professional image, demonstrating a keen awareness of financial realities in challenging economic times.

Used cars up to five years old and with mileage up to 60,000 km very often replace new cars.

— AAA Auto expertsHighlighting the growing popularity of young used cars for businesses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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