In particular, the registration of electric vehicles increased from 4.7% to 5.0%, while the share of hybrids also rose from 42.9% to 51.3% during the same period, indicating that Cypriots are gradually turning to vehicles that may be expensive but are more economical.

These figures come from the announcement of the Statistical Service regarding the release of the Motor Vehicle Registrations report, which covers the January-May 2026 period.

Specifically, in May 2026, total motor vehicle registrations reached 5,173, marking a 6.0% increase compared to 4,879 in May 2025.

Passenger saloon car registrations increased by 7.7% to 4,000, compared to 3,715 in May 2025.

The main developments recorded in vehicle registrations during the January-May 2026 period, compared to the corresponding period of 2025, are summarized as follows:

(a) The total number of registered vehicles increased by 13.0% during the January-May 2026 period, reaching 23,743, compared to 21,012 during the same period in 2025.

(b) Passenger saloon car registrations increased by 12.5% to 18,259, compared to 16,224 during the corresponding period of 2025.

Of the total number of passenger saloon cars, 6,112, or 33.5%, were new, while 12,147, or 66.5%, were used cars.

The crisis in the tourism industry appears to have affected new registrations of rental cars.

The only negative indicator concerns the category of rental vehicles and, as the Statistical Service notes, these cars recorded a decrease of 14.2%, from 2,197 to 1,884.

Also reduced in this vehicle category was the share of petrol-powered saloon cars. During the January-May 2026 period, it fell to 35.4%, from 43.7% in the corresponding period of 2025, while the share of diesel-powered cars also decreased from 8.8% in 2025 to 8.3% in 2026.

By contrast, the share of electric vehicles increased from 4.7% to 5.0%, while the share of hybrids rose from 42.9% to 51.3%.

(d) Bus registrations increased to 102 during the January-May 2026 period, compared to 63 during the same period in 2025.

(e) Goods conveyance vehicle registrations increased to 2,854 during the January-May 2026 period, compared to 2,474 during the corresponding period of 2025, recording an increase of 15.4%.

Light goods vehicles increased by 11.5% to 2,253, road tractors by 16.8% to 111, heavy goods vehicles by 32.1% to 358, and rental vehicles by 51.7% to 132.

(f) Moped registrations for vehicles with an engine capacity below 50cc decreased to 55 during the January-May 2026 period, compared to 101 during the same period in 2025.

(g) Motorcycle registrations for vehicles with an engine capacity above 50cc increased by 15.3% to 2,149 during the January-May 2026 period, compared to 1,864 during the same period in 2025.

Purpose, Coverage, Data

Data on motor vehicle registrations is collected on a monthly basis.

It concerns new motor vehicle registrations as recorded by the Road Transport Department.

Registrations are presented by category, brand, type of energy, new or used status, engine capacity, country of manufacture and origin, and other vehicle characteristics, based on the information kept by the motor vehicle registration service at the Road Transport Department.

Source: Brief