Estonia’s car market continues to recover: new car sales increased by nearly 79% in April
In April, 1,925 new passenger cars were registered in Estonia, which is 849 more vehicles than in April last year. Compared to the same month last year, registrations increased by 78.9%. Considering last year’s low sales figures and the challenging market situation, a comparison with April 2023 and April 2024 provides a more realistic picture. In April 2023, 1,933 passenger cars were registered, while in April 2024 the figure was 1,743. This shows that compared to 2023, the market is at a similar level, but approximately 10% higher than in 2024.
Sales figures have now shown growth for the fourth consecutive month, indicating a slow but steady recovery of the market.
March brand rankings – who won and who lost?
Toyota sold 601 cars in March, achieving a market share of 31%. This result secured Toyota first place for the second consecutive month, and Toyota also continues to lead in year-to-date sales.
Second place went to Škoda, which had to settle for second position for the second month in a row. Škoda sold 296 passenger cars in April and achieved a market share of 15%.
Renault ranked third with 182 cars sold and a market share of 9%.
Compared to the same period last year, the growth figures for the top three brands were as follows:
- Toyota +80%
- Škoda +109%
- Renault +379%
Best-selling models in April
- Toyota Yaris Cross – 205 cars
- Škoda Octavia – 139 cars
- Toyota C-HR – 131 cars
Toyota performed exceptionally well in the model rankings in April, securing two spots in the top three. Toyota sold 205 Yaris Cross models and 131 C-HR models, taking first and third place respectively.
Second place went to the Škoda Octavia with 139 cars sold.
April electric vehicle statistics
A total of 115 electric cars were sold in April, which is 4 fewer than in March. This indicates a slight decline in the electric vehicle market.
- Škoda – 19 cars
- BYD – 12 cars
- Toyota – 10 cars
Škoda achieved first place with 19 electric cars sold, giving it a market share of 17%. BYD followed in second place with 12 cars and a 10% market share. Toyota ranked third with 10 cars and a 9% market share.
As observed previously, competition in the electric vehicle market remains extremely tight, causing constant changes in the top rankings. Large fluctuations are also driven by the fact that the overall market volume is still relatively small.
Most popular electric models
- Škoda Elroq 85 – 10 cars
- Toyota bZ4X – 9 cars
- BYD Sealion 7 – 6 cars
In April, the most popular electric car model was the Škoda Elroq 85, with 10 units sold. This is the first time the model has reached first place.
Toyota bZ4X, which had led the rankings for a long time, had to settle for second place in April with 9 cars sold. Looking at total sales for the year so far, Toyota bZ4X remains by far the best-selling electric vehicle.
Third place went to the BYD Sealion 7 with 6 cars sold.
Fuel type rankings
- Hybrid – 1,398 cars (+107%)
- Diesel – 222 cars (+97%)
- Petrol – 190 cars (–12%)
- Electric – 115 cars (+60%)
Hybrid vehicles continue to dominate the market, and the first months of 2026 have brought no change in this trend.
Surprisingly, diesel-powered cars have climbed to second place, pushing petrol-powered vehicles into third place.
The market is recovering
Overall, April’s results confirm that the Estonian car market is moving toward a cautious recovery. Although the annual growth percentage is high, it is largely due to last year’s low comparison base.
From a longer-term perspective, however, the market appears to be stabilizing, and sales figures are gradually moving upward.
