IBRM SAMAR: Chinese brands hit record 15.9 percent of Polish market

Poland's new car market is growing, but the mix is shifting. Data from the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers, processed by the Automotive Market Research Institute SAMAR, show 51,116 passenger cars and vans (up to 3.5 tonnes GVW) registered in August 2026. That is 8.07 percent (+3,817 units) more than a year earlier, but 18.14 percent (-11,330 units) less than in July. Year-to-date registrations total 463,431 units, up 9.95 percent.

The passenger car segment closed August with 45,909 registrations (+8.07 percent year-on-year, -18.32 percent month-on-month) and 414,162 units year-to-date (+9.56 percent). Private buyers accounted for 33.4 percent of registrations, while companies took 66.6 percent. In absolute terms, institutional customers bought 30,597 cars. The corporate share for 2026 so far is 66.29 percent. SAMAR notes that the statistics exclude sole traders, so the actual fleet share may be higher.

Record for Chinese brands

Chinese brands' share of the Polish passenger car market rose to 15.9 percent in August, up from 15.5 percent in July. It is another record in the history of the survey. BYD is the new leader among Chinese brands.

Alternative powertrains are not growing as fast. The share of new battery-electric vehicles (BEV) was 4.7 percent in August, down from 7.8 percent a year earlier. IBRM SAMAR forecasts around 645,000 passenger cars and 77,000 vans for the full year 2026, though the institute notes that current growth dynamics may lead to a revision of that forecast.

The holiday season was unusually strong this year. Combined July and August registrations, traditionally a weak period, exceeded 100,000 units for the first time in the survey's history. Six of the top ten brands posted growth. Volkswagen recorded the biggest increase in the top ten (+15.86 percent), while Hyundai saw the biggest decline (-13.32 percent).

Barriers on the customer side

Data show that Chinese brands are gaining share mainly in combustion and hybrid cars, not electric ones. An OTOMOTO report confirms this: 54 percent of drivers across ten surveyed markets say they want an electric car, but in Poland the figure is 35 percent, unchanged from the previous survey. At the end of July 2026, 157,000 electric cars were on Polish roads, including 145,000 passenger cars. Respondents cite price, charging availability, battery condition, and trust in new brands as barriers.