Chinese Vehicle Imports to Israel Hit Record $2.713 Billion in Q1-Q3
Chinese vehicle imports to Israel hit a record $2.713 billion in the first three quarters, with Chinese brands capturing over 60% of the local monthly market share. New models from XPENG, Kia, and Jaecoo highlight a surging automotive market.
Imports of vehicles and automotive parts from China to Israel reached a record $2.713 billion during the first three quarters of the year, according to data from the Manufacturers Association. This figure accounts for approximately 20% of the total financial value of imports from China during this period and about 3% of Israel's total imports.
Meanwhile, vehicle deliveries from Chinese manufacturers continue to break records. Data for new vehicle registrations from January to October indicates that Chinese automotive brands captured over 60% of the monthly market share in each of the last three months (August, September, and October), marking a new local record.
During the January-October period, a cumulative total of 130,496 Chinese-made vehicles were delivered, including zero-kilometer registrations. This represents a cumulative market share of 47% and a year-on-year increase of approximately 13 percentage points.
The Chinese Chery Group leads the manufacturing group delivery rankings with 62,700 cumulative deliveries since the beginning of the year, capturing a 22.6% market share. The South Korean Hyundai-Kia group holds second place with 46,000 cumulative deliveries and a 16.6% market share. Toyota occupies third place among manufacturing groups and second among individual brands with approximately 30,000 deliveries and a 12% market share. The top five brands collectively captured 49.3% of total new vehicle deliveries during this period.
Surge in Alternative Powertrains and New Models
Deliveries in green vehicle segments continued to soar, with plug-in hybrids accounting for 25% of total deliveries, compared to just 11% in the same period last year. Chinese-made vehicles captured 74.3% of this segment. The hybrid segment saw a moderate rise from 25.9% to 31.9%, with Chinese brands tripling their market share to 30.4%. The pure electric vehicle segment contracted from 20.1% last year to 13%, though Chinese manufacturers continue to dominate it with 97% of deliveries.
The automotive market has also seen a continuous influx of new models arriving in Israel. XPENG launched its new L03 family crossover, marking the brand's first offering with an extended-range plug-in hybrid (REEV) powertrain alongside pure electric versions. Kia introduced its large EV5 electric crossover, offering a range of up to 530 kilometers. Additionally, Chery launched a full hybrid version of its best-selling Jaecoo 7 crossover, while Mercedes-Benz, through local importer Colmobil, introduced updated GLE models featuring advanced artificial intelligence interfaces and a new plug-in hybrid variant with a combined output of 435 horsepower.
