The Automobile Importers Association published last night (Sunday) the report summarizing the final sales data for the 2022 model year, between January and last December. According to the association’s data, there was a decrease of seven percent in the amount of sales compared to the previous year, while in the last 12 months Only 268,000 new vehicles were delivered in Israel. These are values similar to the numbers achieved here in 2018, before the outbreak of the Corona epidemic that led to the paralysis of the economy and a steep drop in sales.
The top three, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota all reported declines of one percent, five percent and 11 percent respectively. Specifically Mazda, until not long ago buried in the center-bottom of the table, grew this year by 24% and delivered 18,700 cars. Next is Skoda, the leading European car brand with a 30% drop. On the improving side, we can name the Citroen brand which grew by 11%, Geely with an increase of 4000%, the MG brand put 5081 units on the roads (an increase of 72%) and Mercedes grew by 15% and is the largest luxury brand in Israel for 2022.
No less impressive is the gallop of Cupra vehicles close to the top (not only in Israel but also in Europe reaping success). The Spanish sports company grew by 140%. Opel also managed to impress this year with an increase of 35%. In contrast, sharp declines in the popular group were recorded at Honda (87%), Seat (51%) and Nissan, which shrank by 69%. Also in the electric segment, Avis with an increase of 204%, Skivel delivered 745 cars, Ceres 738 units, Maxus 484 (an increase of 244%).
Data in the luxury group convey quite a bit of optimism for the thousandth and tenth; Genesis sent 661 cars to the roads this year – an increase of 98%, Cadillac with 736 units – an increase of 12%. Aston Martin delivered 12 cars – a 200% increase, Ferrari 19 cars (a 20% increase). Tesla ended the year down 4%. The luxury brand that delivered the most electric models is Mercedes, with 712 vehicles.
Star models
The best-selling car in Israel in 2022 was the Kia Picanto with 12,971 deliveries. The family car sold in Israel – Toyota Corolla with almost 10,800 units. The best-selling crossover in Israel is the Hyundai Tucson with 7,432 units and the best-selling electric vehicle in Israel in the past year was the Geely Geometric C with 6,816 units. A rummage through rare and ultra-expensive models reveals that Maserati sold a single MC-20, Ferrari Portofino was sold in two units, Nissan GT-R reached two customers, and Bentley Continental GT went to 11 drivers in Israel.
Total of all electric models that were sold last year in Israel is 27,600, which means about a 10% share of all sales in 2022. The largest car exporter to Israel is South Korea (over 60,000 cars), followed by Japan with 47,000 and in third place the Chinese with 25,000 new cars on Israeli roads – almost twice three from the previous year.