Analysis of registration data for February 2026 indicates a significant cooling of activity in the used passenger car import segment. During the reporting period , 14,156 vehicles were registered in Ukraine, which indicates a decline in volumes by 16.8% compared to the previous month and by 19.9% compared to the same period last year.
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This reduction is a direct consequence of the abnormally high activity recorded in December 2025. Then, against the background of expected tax changes, there was a significant increase in demand for electric vehicles, when their share in imports reached a record 60.1%. Currently, the market is in a state of stabilization and redistribution of resources, as evidenced by the drop in the share of electric cars in the February rush to 5.7%. In essence, February figures reflect a return to natural import volumes after an artificially created supply deficit and the exhaustion of hype demand.
The most popular "freshly driven" brands and models
The structure of Ukrainiansʼ preferences for brands and models shows a clear orientation towards the German auto industry and the gradual displacement of budget sedans by mid- and premium-class crossovers. The undisputed leader remains the Volkswagen brand, which maintains its leadership thanks to its wide model range and high trust in the brand. However, the main trend of the month was the strengthening of the positions of Audi and BMW. The success of Audi deserves special attention, whose popular crossover model outpaced even the traditional long-standing leaders of the segment in terms of the number of registrations. This indicates a change in the portrait of the average "chaser": today the buyer is ready to pay for a higher-quality and more expensive car, which justifies the complex logistical costs.
Japanese and American brands such as Nissan and Ford are holding steady, mainly due to active imports from North American auctions. The model ranking is dominated by crossovers, with compact and mid-size SUVs taking the lead. Traditional hatchbacks and station wagons, such as the Skoda Octavia or Volkswagen Golf, still remain in the top, but their share is gradually being eroded in favor of cars with higher ground clearance. Even within one brand, there is a shift in interest from classic sedans to more modern urban SUVs, which is a global trend that has finally taken hold in the Ukrainian secondary market.
There is also a noticeable decline in the "premium" segment — last month our fleet was replenished with one Bentley and one Ferrari, 2 Lamborghinis, 3 Maseratis, and 62 Porsches.
Summing up the state of used car imports in February, it can be argued that the market has moved from quantitative accumulation to qualitative renewal. The electric car pause allowed classic brands with internal combustion engines to regain their dominant role, but already at a higher price level. Modern "drive" is becoming less and less massive in the budget sector, focusing on fresher and better equipped cars of European and American origin. The current slump in dynamics is only a technical correction after the turbulent end of last year, which evens out the balance between demand for technological innovations and time-tested classics.
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