Iraq car sales fall 28.6% in first half of 2026, Kia holds top spot

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Car sales in Iraq fell 28.6% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, dropping to 59,264 vehicles, according to a report based on global automotive market data from Focus2move. Kia retained its lead with a 28% market share despite a 27.8% decline in sales, followed by Toyota with 22% and Nissan in third place after a 13.3% drop. MG held fourth position with an 8.9% share, while Jetur climbed to fifth with an 8.4% share on a 29.2% increase in sales, putting it alongside Great Wall among the few brands to grow during the period. Great Wall sales rose 6.9%, while Hyundai recorded the steepest decline among major marques at 69.7%. The report also said electric vehicle sales fell 72% during the same period, reducing their share of the total market to roughly 1%, with BYD leading the segment at 48.3% and Toyota at 43.4%. The report noted that Iraq's automotive market expanded strongly between 2021 and 2024, reaching 158,076 vehicles in 2024 before entering a downturn this year.