The Hungarian passenger car market strengthened in the first quarter of the year: 4,775 more cars were sold, bringing the total to 36,455, which represents a 10.8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Datahouse. Japan’s Suzuki, long considered the undisputed leader, only managed to secure fourth place in the “popularity race.” At the top of the market is another Japanese brand, Toyota, which sold 4,447 passenger cars—971 more than at this time last year.
Such a significant expansion—nearly 28%—is unprecedented in Toyota’s history in Hungary, reports Világgazdaság. Nissan took second place, selling 252 more passenger cars—a total of 4,435—in Hungary compared to the first quarter of the previous year. This represents a growth of approximately 132% for the Japanese brand.
Toyota Yaris. Photo: Pexels
Skoda took third place on the podium with 3,421 cars sold, a 14.8% increase. Fourth place went to Suzuki (3,219 units), and fifth to Volkswagen (2,104 units).
The latest data clearly shows that Chinese brands are steadily increasing their presence in Hungary. While they held a five percent market share in the first quarter of last year, this figure rose to nine percent in the first quarter of this year.
In the first three months of the year, a total of 15 Chinese brands were present on the Hungarian market, including four completely new entrants such as Chery, Farizon, Xpeng, and Leapmotor.
Chery took the market lead with 820 passenger cars sold, closely followed by BYD with 818 units, while Volvo came in third with 597 cars. The momentum of Chinese brands is well illustrated by the fact that they sold a total of 3,679 vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles combined) in the first quarter of the year, which is 1,683 more than in the same period of the previous year.
Cars of the popular Chery brand in China. Photo: Hungary Today
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows that a dramatic shift began across the entire European car market in the first two months of 2026. Buyers are increasingly turning to electrified powertrains, while gasoline and diesel models are rapidly losing market share.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: Pixabay
