Amman, Oct. 15 (Petra) -- Jordan’s new vehicle market began regaining balance during the third quarter of 2026, with total registrations in the first nine months approaching pre-peak levels recorded during the same period in 2024.

According to an analytical review by the Jordan Automotive Dealers Association (JADA) based on initial registration data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department, 33,763 vehicles were registered during the first nine months of 2026, compared to 34,307 during the same period in 2024 a minor difference of 1.6 percent.

JADA noted that market comparisons with 2025 must account for extraordinary conditions in the second half of last year, driven by an unusual surge in customs clearance and registration ahead of a Cabinet decision regulating the automotive sector, which took effect on Nov. 2, 2025. Registrations reached 13,364 vehicles in October 2025 alone.

The association highlighted a steady upward trend since mid-2026, with monthly average registrations rising from roughly 3,135 vehicles in the first half of the year to nearly 5,000 in the third quarter. Third-quarter registrations reached 14,953 vehicles, up 13 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

Market competition broadened as active brands rose to 116, up from 114 last year. Meanwhile, the market share of the top five brands contracted from 64.6 percent to 60.1 percent, and the leading brand's share dropped from 35 percent to 19.5 percent, reflecting expanded consumer choice.

Data showed a shift in engine distribution: electric vehicle (EV) market share decreased from 48.4 percent to 34.8 percent, while hybrid vehicles grew 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, alongside regulatory measures banning the import of EVs older than three years or classified as salvaged in their country of origin.

Roughly 85 percent of the decline in imports through the free zone involved electric vehicles, whereas hybrid, gasoline, and diesel imports grew. Free zone registrations steadily recovered, climbing from around 1,800 vehicles per month early in the year to over 3,200 vehicles per month in August and September.

JADA stressed that subjecting imported vehicles to Jordanian standards and recognized technical systems European, American, or Gulf standards serves consumer protection and guarantees quality and after-sales support rather than restricting trade.

Official import channels grew, with sales of cleared vehicles outside the free zone rising 15 percent. The association reaffirmed that the free zone should serve primarily as a regional storage and re-export platform, while the domestic market relies on regulated channels ensuring warranties, compliance, and consumer rights.

JADA urged stakeholders to rely on official data and accurate methodologies when assessing sector performance, emphasizing the need to distinguish between customs clearance activity and actual market registrations to avoid misleading indicators.

//Petra// AF