Hong Kong's 2026 H1 New Car Registrations Revealed: The Final EV Rush?

For Hong Kong's motor market, 2026 will be a year etched in memory, as the "One-for-One" Scheme, in place for eight years, officially concluded on 31 March. From that date onwards, members of the public purchasing electric private cars will be liable for First Registration Duty (FRD) just like those buying conventional petrol private cars.

This shift is starkly reflected in the new vehicle registration data for the first three months of this year: new vehicle registrations reached 17,891 units, a year-on-year surge of 115.7%, nearing the total registrations for January–June 2025 (18,281 units). Among newly registered private cars, electric vehicles accounted for a staggering 91.1%. The logic is clear: as the Cantonese saying goes, "Once past Suzhou, there's no boat to catch," motorists were rushing to catch the final shuttle on this promotional route.

While many anticipated a return to normality in the Hong Kong motor market come April, that calmness only truly materialised by June. As BitAuto has highlighted in previous videos and articles, the Transport Department received over 13,500 applications in a single month, causing severe bottlenecks in the approval process that were only cleared by mid-May. Intriguingly, the June new vehicle registration rankings were still dominated by electric vehicles; petrol or hybrid models failed to regain the upper hand. This phenomenon further underscores a fundamental shift in Hong Kong residents' motoring needs.

From the brand perspective, Tesla and BYD, as expected, secured the top two spots. Notably, most manufacturers within the top 20 recorded substantial year-on-year growth, largely by capitalising on this final policy window. For these marques, the key challenge for the remainder of the year will be adjusting their model lineups to adapt to market conditions once policy incentives have expired.

Let's now take a closer look at the top 10 models in the rankings:

1st Place: Tesla Model Y (3,273 units)
Why the strong sales? Tesla has been deeply entrenched in the EV sector for years. As electric vehicles have become the mainstream, it was inevitable for Tesla to reap the rewards. For clarity, this figure excludes the Model Y L, which launched in early April and recorded 221 units in just two months.

2nd Place: Tesla Model 3 (2,532 units)
Why the strong sales? The rationale is the same as above. The only caveat is that the public clearly favours SUVs over sedans.

3rd Place: Zeekr 7X (2,134 units)
Why the strong sales? It is a product that excels in every aspect, combining luxury, comfort, spacious accommodation, rich equipment, and high performance in one package.

4th Place: BYD Sealion 7 (1,978 units)
Why the strong sales? Ample space, powerful features, and cutting-edge powertrain technology. Of course, an attractive price point during the "One-for-One" period was also a significant factor.

5th Place: BYD Atto 2 (1,971 units)
Why the strong sales? Its compact footprint ensures agility while still offering generous interior space. Coupled with the low running costs of an EV and an attractive price point just over HK$150,000, it naturally appealed to budget-conscious families with motoring needs.

6th Place: XPENG G6 (1,422 units)
Why the strong sales? Spacious accommodation and comprehensive equipment—hallmarks of Chinese brands—are also present in the G6. Its standout features include the high-efficiency 800V high-voltage platform, rare in its class, as well as functions like remote parking.

7th Place: bZ3X (1,394 units)
Why the strong sales? Essentially, the bZ3X is a GAC badge-engineered by Toyota. This gives it all the advantages of Chinese products, plus the added emotional appeal of the Toyota brand among Hong Kong consumers. Therefore, it is not surprising that it managed to break into the top ten among the flood of domestic cars.

8th Place: Dongfeng Nammi VIGO (1,278 units)
Why the strong sales? The VIGO boasts a distinctive design, including the split tailgate. However, none of these features were as impactful as its launch price of under HK$150,000 during the "One-for-One" scheme.

9th Place: GAC Aion UT (1,195 units)
Why the strong sales? Its approachable styling created an excellent first impression, and its performance in other areas was also commendable.

10th Place: Denza D9 (1,126 units)
Why the strong sales? MPVs remain a primary battleground in Hong Kong's motor market. With a more luxurious cabin, higher specifications, and a roomier interior at a comparable price point, plus the benefit of being an EV, it is only natural for the D9 to stand out.

*For more ranking details, remember to visit bitauto.hk!

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