The latest data from the Statistical Service confirms a trend that has been going on for a long time, as hybrid cars are now dominating the markets and vehicle registrations in Cyprus.
Specifically, the new data recorded in the Cypriot car market show that hybrids now make up more than half of the passenger cars registered, while at the same time almost seven out of ten registrations concern used cars.
In particular, 51.9% of passenger saloon cars registered from January to July 2026 were hybrid, compared to 43.3% in the corresponding period of 2025, now constituting the majority of registrations in Cyprus.
At the same time, gasoline cars recorded a decline, with their share limited to 35.5%, compared to 43.3% in the same period last year. Diesel cars fell to 8% from 8.5%, while an interesting element is the marginal decrease in the share of electric cars, to 4.6% from 4.8% in the period January – July 2025.
Two out of three used
Another interesting element in car registrations for the first seven months of 2026 is the fact that around two out of three cars were used, with new car dealerships in Cyprus appearing to be losing ground to used vehicle imports.
In particular, out of the 26,841 passenger car registrations, 18,227 (67.9%) were used cars, while only 8,614, or 32.1%, were new.
It is also important that vehicle registrations increased by 11.5% compared to the same period last year, with passenger cars recording an increase of 11.1%.
According to the data of the Statistical Service, during the period January – July 2026, a total of 34,787 vehicles were registered, compared to 31,200 in the corresponding period last year.
A significant increase is also recorded in commercial vehicles. Specifically, during the same period, 4,074 were registered, compared to 3,608 last year, with an increase of 12.9%.
Light trucks increased by 12.1%, to 3,324, road tractors (trailers) by 15.2%, to 152, heavy trucks by 16.1%, to 491, and rental vehicles by 16.6%, to 197.
Bus registrations increased to 130 in the period January – July 2026, from 89 in the same period in 2025. An increase was also recorded in the registrations of motorcycles over 50 cc, by 12.9%, reaching 3,167 in the period January – July 2026, compared to 2,806 in the same period of 2025.
In contrast, the only category that recorded a decrease was mopeds, whose registrations fell to 100, compared to 143 last year.
Why so many hybrids?
Reading the data shows that Cypriots prefer hybrid cars. However, a very important factor should be taken into account in this picture.
In recent years, automakers have developed their engines and cars with the main goal of reducing fuel consumption. In this context, hybrid technology has been significantly developed, which can concern either "mild hybrids" or "plug-in hybrids".
In the first case, cars have, along with the internal combustion engine, small batteries, which are charged when the vehicle is moving and provide electricity to move or assist it at very low speeds and when starting.
In the second case, these are cars that can be charged like pure electric ones, with larger batteries, but also have an internal combustion engine and have the ability to travel longer distances exclusively on electricity.
This technology is now found in a large part of new cars produced by car manufacturers. Under this background, but also taking into account the restrictions that apply to the date of import of used cars into Cyprus, it is understood that a large part of the options available to consumers now concerns cars that carry hybrid technology and are classified in this category.
