Market Trend and Outlook

The Qatari vehicle market in September 2023 falls for the 4th month this year, reporting 4,808 new registrations (-16.6%). YTD figures at 44,120 are down 0.2% from the previous year.

Looking at cumulative data up to September 2023 brand-wise, the leader Toyota reports 14,249 sales (-8.4%) and 32.3% market share, far in front of Nissan with 3,160 units sold (-15.6%).

In third place ranks Land Rover -up 5 spots- with 2,950 sales (+99.9%) ahead of Leuxs in 4th with 2,923 new registrations (+109.1%).

Looking at specific models the Toyota Land Cruiser is the still best seller despite losing 23.5% from the previous year, followed by the Lexus LX with a huge 135.6% surge in sales.

Medium-Term Market Trend

Following a rapid development in the first years of this century, Qatari light vehicles market reached the all time record in the 2014, hitting the 100,000 milestone.

However, the fall of oil price in the international market and the consequent restrictive economic policy and new taxes (including VAT) introduction, hit the consumer demand and the market declined by the half in 2015-2019 period.

When Covid 19 restrictions limited the activities in 2020, the market fell down at the lowest in last 15 years at only 40.000 sales. However, the recovery was immediate in 2021, pushed by demand generated by the organization of FIFA World Championship.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and Top 10 Models.

Market Trend and Outlook

Following a collapse in sales in 2020 (-17.9%), the light vehicle market started to gain momentum in the 2021, closing the year 13.8% higher than the prior. This spike in demand was caused by strong investments in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, that ultimately lead to a growth in the countries GDP.

In 2022 the light vehicle market in Qatar totaled 61,407 sales, a 34.9% increase from the prior year. December confirmed the overall uptrend, posting the 12th consecutive growth of the year with 5,188 new registrations (+23.7%).

Looking at cumulative data from 2022 brand-wise, the leader Toyota reports 20,626 sales (+59.8%) and 33.6% market share, far in front of Nissan which sold 5,003 units (+0.1%).

In third place ranks Kia with 3,931 sales(+22.8%) ahead of a skyrocketing Suzuki, -up 6 spots- in 4th with 2,857 new registrations (+119.6%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and Top 10 Models.

Market trend

The Qatari car market this year effectively recovered, performing positively all year except for Q1.

Qatar Vehicles Market in recent years is declining. Following the all-time record established in 2014, when sales hit 100,000 units, the fall of oil price in the international market and the consequent restrictive economic policy, hit the consumer demand starting a negative period not yet ended. Sales fell down for three consecutive years losing the half of 2014 volume and landing at 54,280 units in 2017, losing a huge 25.6%.

In 2018 the market fell down again. Indeed, the year has signed the fourth negative annual score in a row, ending with sales down 6.3%. Moreover, the market has closed with registrations at 50,757, almost half of the 2014 all-time record.

While the negative economic environment moved the Government to postponed the VAT introduction already agreed with the G.C.C. partnership, in 2019 the market was again negative, ending the year at 49,861 registrations, down 1.8%.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in oil prices sales fell in  2020. In fact, 40,725 units have been sold, reporting a decline of 18.2% compared to 2019.

In 2021 the year started negatively for the Qatari market, in fact, in Q1 11,597 units have been sold, reporting a 6.2% decrease in sales compared to Q1 2020, while in Q2 sales started growing quickly, reporting a 74.5% increase in sales with 10,081 units due to the incredibly low volumes in Q2 2020.

In Q3 12,628 units have been sold, increasing sales by 17.6%, while in Q4 sales rose only 1.6% with 12,183 units.

Brand-wise, this year the leader Toyota (-1.4%) lost 4.5% market share, followed by Nissan (-1.6%), which lost 1.7% share as well, and Kia which gained 1.3% share, gaining 39.2%.  Mitsubishi remained in 4th place and gained 23.7%, followed by Hyundai -up 1 spot- which gained 21.6%.

Chevrolet -up 5 spots- reached 6th place and grew 74.2%, followed by MG which gained 24.4% sales. Land Rover -up 7 spots- entered the leaderboard and grew by 96.4%, while closing the leaderboard we have GMC gaining 20.3% this year and Suzuki -down 2 spots- in last place gaining 14.3%.

The most sold vehicle this year remains the Toyota Land Cruiser (-15.3%) with 4,676 units sold, followed by the Toyota Hilux (+4.6%) registering 2,240 new sales this year. The Nissan Patrol (+9.7%) – up 1 spot- closes the podium and reports 1,568 new units sold.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and top 10 models.

Market trend

The Qatari car market has been hit in 2020 by the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted sales significantly.

After starting the year in a slightly positive trend (+2.5%), the market quickly collapsed in March as the virus struck. The sharpest drop in sales this year was in May when sales declined by 69.3% affected by the restrictions and by the drop in visitors and tourism. 

In the following months the market recovered quickly, reaching -9.6% in June. In October the market registered another double-digit drop in sales (-16.8%), while the last 2 months of the year remained almost flat.

Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2020 have been 40.725, reporting a decline of 18.2% compared to 2019.

Brand-wise, this year the leader Toyota (-18.5%) lost 0.2% market share, followed by Nissan (-19.3%), which lost 0.2% share as well, and Kia which lost 0.1% share, falling 19%.  Mitsubishi remained in 4th place and lost 18.5%, followed by Lexus -up 1 spot- which lost 14.1%.

Hyundai -up 1 spot- reached 6th place despite reporting the worst performance in the leaderboard by losing 20.5%, followed by MG which on the other hand registered the best performance in the leaderboard by jumping 6 spots and gaining 30.8% sales. Suzuki -up 4 spots- entered the leaderboard and grew by 8.3%, while closing the leaderboard we have GMC -up 2 spots- losing 10.7% this year and Ford -up 5 spots- in last place gaining 17.3%.

The most sold vehicle this year remains the Toyota Land Cruiser (-14.9%) with 5.523 units sold, followed by the Toyota Hilux (-6.4%) -up 1 spot- registering 2.142 new sales this year. The Nissan Sunny (-29.1%) – down 1 spot- closes the podium and reports 1.640 new units sold.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and top 10 models.

Economic Environment

Qatari economy likely picked up in the second half of last year. Industrial output strengthened in the third quarter, while the non-oil sector PMI recovered in the fourth quarter. Moreover, year-on-year credit and visitor arrivals growth was strong in October–November, boding well for private consumption. That said, merchandise exports remained depressed up to November, partly due to lower energy exports.

This follows Q2’s contraction in economic output as a dip in the non-mining and quarrying sector weighed on the headline figure. In other news, the government announced in December that the 2020 budget will amount to roughly USD 58 billion, a 1.9% increase from 2019, with major spending penciled in for World Cup 2022 preparations. The budget surplus is expected to shrink slightly.

Market Trend

Qatar Vehicles Market in recent years is declining. Following the all-time record established in the 2014, when sales hit the 100.000 units, the fall of oil price in the international market and the consequent restrictive economic policy, hit the consumer demand starting a negative period not yet ended. Sales fell down for three consecutive years losing the half of 2014 volume and landing at 54.280 units in the 2017, losing a huge 25.6%.

In the 2018 the market fell down again. Indeed, the year has signed the fourth negative annual score in a row, ending with sales down 6.3%. Moreover, the market has closed with registrations at 50.757, almost half of the 2014 all time record.

While the negative economic environment moved the Government to postponed the VAT introduction already agreed with the G.C.C. partnership, in 2019 the market was again negative, ending the year at 49.861 registrations, down 1.8%.

Looking at the competitive landscape, the market leader Toyota improved by 4.3% consolidating the market share at almost one-third of the market.

The first competitors were Nissan and Kia losing respectively 10.3% and 6.9%. German brands have performed well with Volkswagen and Mercedes gaining, but the star of the year was the recently landed Chinese MG, which boosted sales by 157%, ending the year in 13th position.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

Economic Environment

Qatari economy accelerated in Q3, with strong growth in the construction; and accommodation and food services sub-sectors. In contrast, the mining and quarrying sub-sector contracted slightly. Looking to Q4, trade data for October and November paints a positive picture, with exports and the trade surplus rising by double digits in annual terms. Moreover, foreign reserves continued to rise in November.

Looking ahead, growth should be supported by higher hydrocarbon production and infrastructure projects. However, the Saudi-led blockade and exposure to volatile commodity prices are downside risks.

Market Trend

Qatar Vehicles Market in recent year is declining. Following the all time record established in the 2014, when sales hit the 100.000 units, the fall of oil price in the international market and the consequent restrictive economic policy, hit the consumer demand starting a negative period not yet ended. Sales fell down for three consecutive years losing the half of 2014 volume and landing at 54.280 units in the 2017, losing a huge 25.6%.

The Government decision to postpone the already approved VAT introduction by one year did not sorted great effects not solving the main economic issue represented by the too high level of national deficit. The vehicles market, which accelerated in Q4 2017 anticipating the price increase, was not able to generate new strong demand and the negative trend is still in place.

In the 2018 the market fell down again. Indeed, the year has signed the fourth negative annual score in a row, ending with sales down 6.3%. Moreover, the market has closed with registrations at 50.757, almost half of the 2014 all time record.

Market	Sales 2014	Sales 2015	Sales 2016	Sales 2017	Sales 2018	'+/- 2018
Car+LCV	100.128	96.581	72.945	54.189	50.757	-6,3%

The competitive landscape in 2018 was dominated by Toyota, selling 15.789 vehicles (-2.8%) with 31.1% of market share.

In second place Nissan with 7.018 units (-14.6%) and in third Mitsubishi with 3.687 (-11.3%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

Qatar’s economy closed 2016 on a mixed note. Economic growth for the year likely decelerated to the lowest level in two decades, weighed down by the effects of the oil price downturn.

However, the government has made laudable efforts to attempt to compensate for the shortfall in oil-related revenues while sparing major infrastructure investments related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Vision 2030 development plan, the cornerstones of Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon growth.

The automotive sector, has been heavily hit by the economy deceleration, arrived at the end of a long growing period with market volume almost doubled between the 2010 and the 2014/2015.

Although unpredicted, the 2016 slowdown was severe and, according to data released by the Qatari Bureau of Statistics, new vehicles sales in the 2016 had been 72.260, down 25.2%.

All the top 17 brands have lost sales, but the sixth, Lexus, up 13.1%.

The market leader Toyota was down 23.6%, ahead of Nissan and Mitsubishi respectively down 26.8% and 25.7% and Kia (-4.9%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands