Ukrainians are switching to hybrids en masse: how the auto market has changed in 2026
23 May 08:16
By 2026, the Ukrainian auto market had undergone a complete transformation, driven by high fuel prices, electric vehicles, and online sales through “Diyu.” Japanese and European brands remain the leaders among new cars, while among used cars, Ukrainians continue to prefer “popular” models with low repair costs and fuel efficiency. Analyst Ostap Novitsky shared this in a comment to Delo.ua, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
In the new passenger car segment in 2026, the top five look like this:
- Toyota
- Renault
- Skoda
- Volkswagen
- Hyundai
These brands maintain their positions thanks to a wide dealer network, the availability of cars in showrooms, and their reputation as mass-market and reliable vehicles, explains Novitsky.
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He singles out Toyota in particular, which is actively focusing on hybrid models, fuel efficiency, and high resale value.
Volkswagen is twice as far ahead of its competitors in the used car market
The situation is different in the used car market. Here, Volkswagen remains the absolute leader, which, according to the analyst, “always outsells its closest competitor by a factor of two.”
Top 5 used cars in 2026:
- Volkswagen
- Renault
- Audi
- BMW
- Skoda
The reason for Volkswagen’s popularity is its reputation as a “simple and easy-to-repair” car, a reputation that took shape back in the 1990s.
Skoda occupies a similar niche—for the same price, buyers often get a better-equipped car without compromising on quality.
At the same time, Renault maintains its position thanks to its fuel-efficient 1.5-liter diesel models, which remain cheap to operate even with high fuel prices.
Ukrainians are no longer afraid of Chinese cars
The analyst cites a shift in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Chinese brands and electric vehicles as one of the main trends of 2026. According to Novitsky, models from BYD, Zeekr, and Xiaomi are no longer considered exotic.
“The appearance of the Xiaomi SU7 or the top-of-the-line Zeekr on the streets doesn’t cause surprise, but rather practical interest in their specs,” the expert says.
Even Tesla owners are increasingly considering Chinese electric vehicles as an alternative for their next purchase, he adds.
Chinese brands have also begun entering the commercial vehicle segment. In particular, the Chery Himla diesel pickup has already made it into the top 10 new commercial vehicles alongside the Mitsubishi L200 and Toyota Hilux.
High gas prices are transforming the market
Novitsky cites the sharp rise in fuel prices as the key factor driving changes in the auto market. According to him, Ukrainians are increasingly opting out of large gasoline-powered crossovers in favor of more fuel-efficient models.
“A car that consumes 15 liters of gasoline is becoming a financially toxic asset,” he notes.
In the used car market, this has already led to a glut of fuel-inefficient vehicles. People are scrapping old cars with internal combustion engines en masse.
Separately, the expert highlights the shift in trend from diesel to hybrids and electric vehicles. While diesel was previously considered the most fuel-efficient option, buyers are now increasingly opting for gasoline hybrids or electric cars due to the higher cost of diesel fuel.
The situation is similar with gas-powered cars—installing a gas conversion kit no longer provides the same savings it did a few years ago.
Nearly a third of car sales have moved online
Another notable trend is the rapid digitalization of the market. According to Novitsky, about 30% of the domestic used car market has already moved online thanks to services on “Diia.”
“People no longer want complicated inspection and registration processes. Nearly a third of used cars are purchased just as quickly as a new smartphone,” the analyst concludes.
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