January, traditionally the strongest month for Israel’s auto market, ended with 46,600 new vehicle deliveries — excluding trucks, buses, two-wheelers, and privately imported cars. This marks a 25% increase from the previous year when war-related disruptions and import restrictions weakened sales.
Hyundai reclaimed the top spot in deliveries despite a slight decline, overtaking Toyota, which led in 2024. Skoda saw a significant boost, while Mazda rounded out the top five. But the real story is the rise of Chinese automakers, with four brands securing spots in the top 10 despite an unexpected drop in BYD sales. Chery and MG saw sharp increases, and Jaecoo made a strong debut, fueled by demand for its plug-in hybrid model.
In the second tier, Chinese brands XPeng and Lynk & Co made headlines. Lynk & Co, which struggled in previous years, delivered in a single month what it had sold over the past two years combined, thanks to the successful launch of its 02 electric model.
Among other Chinese brands, Geely plummeted 69% to just 300 deliveries, barely edging out Zeekr. Seres recorded 255 deliveries, Leapmotor 200, and Maxus 176 — four of them through new importer Auto Chen. Dongfeng trailed with 152.
At the bottom of the rankings, once-dominant brands like Ford and Chevrolet posted lackluster numbers, with Ford placing 37th (152 units) and Chevrolet 40th (131 units), just seven more than the relatively unknown Changan. Opel and Honda shared the 43rd and 44th spots with around 100 deliveries each, while Alfa Romeo managed only 19. Cadillac and DS each delivered just one car, and Infiniti failed to register any.
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BMW led the luxury segment with 780 deliveries, a 66% jump, followed by Audi (360, down 7%), Volvo (345, up 57%), and Lexus (320, up 19%). Mercedes-Benz, a longtime leader in the category, fell to fifth with 280 deliveries, a 42% drop.
Electric vehicle sales accounted for 7,400 deliveries—16% of the market, compared to 25% throughout 2024. BYD led with nearly 2,000 deliveries, followed by XPeng (900), Lynk & Co (850), and Chery (600). Notably, 90% of all EVs delivered in Israel in January were made in China.