Accra:The new vehicle market in Jordan began to regain balance during the third quarter of 2026, with total registrations in the first nine months nearing the levels seen in the same period in 2024.
According to Jordan News Agency, an analytical review by the Jordan Automotive Dealers Association (JADA) based on initial registration data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department revealed that 33,763 vehicles were registered during the first nine months of 2026. This figure represents a minor difference of 1.6 percent compared to the 34,307 vehicles registered in the same period of 2024.
JADA noted that comparisons with 2025 must consider extraordinary conditions during the second half of that year, driven by a surge in customs clearance and registrations before a Cabinet decision regulating the automotive sector took effect on November 2, 2025. Registrations in October 2025 alone reached 13,364 vehicles.
Since mid-2026, there has been a steady upward trend, with monthly average registrations increasing from approximately 3,135 vehicles in the first half of the year to nearly 5,000 in the third quarter. Third-quarter registrations totaled 14,953 vehicles, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Market competition has broadened, as the number of active brands increased to 116, up from 114 last year. Meanwhile, the market share of the top five brands decreased from 64.6 percent to 60.1 percent, and the leading brand's share fell from 35 percent to 19.5 percent, offering consumers more choices.
There has been a notable shift in engine distribution. The market share for electric vehicles (EVs) decreased from 48.4 percent to 34.8 percent, while hybrid vehicles increased to 37.6 percent and gasoline/diesel vehicles rose to 27.7 percent. JADA attributed this shift to consumer demand for vehicles with guaranteed maintenance, spare parts, and warranties, along with regulatory measures banning the import of EVs older than three years or classified as salvaged in their country of origin.
Approximately 85 percent of the decline in imports through the free zone involved electric vehicles, while hybrid, gasoline, and diesel imports grew. Free zone registrations steadily recovered, increasing from around 1,800 vehicles per month early in the year to over 3,200 vehicles per month in August and September.
JADA emphasized that subjecting imported vehicles to Jordanian standards and recognized technical systems from Europe, America, or the Gulf serves to protect consumers and ensure quality and after-sales support, rather than restricting trade.
Official import channels have expanded, with sales of cleared vehicles outside the free zone rising by 15 percent. JADA reaffirmed that the free zone should primarily serve as a regional storage and re-export platform, while the domestic market relies on regulated channels that ensure warranties, compliance, and consumer rights.
The association urged stakeholders to rely on official data and accurate methodologies when assessing sector performance, highlighting the need to differentiate between customs clearance activity and actual market registrations to avoid misleading indicators.