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‘Fundamental reshaping’ of Singapore car market as China and EV brands storm up the charts while legacy players hit hard

EV-centric brands such as Tesla, Chery MG, GAC increase registrations by 3 to 6 times as BMW and Mercedes-Benz sales slip almost 40%

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Derryn Wong

Derryn Wong

Published Mon, Apr 27, 2026 · 07:21 PM
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    • China brand Chery, which produces the Omoda E5, has increased its registrations year on year by around six times to 600 in Q1 2026.
    • China brand Chery, which produces the Omoda E5, has increased its registrations year on year by around six times to 600 in Q1 2026. PHOTO: DERRYN WONG, BT

    [SINGAPORE] Electric vehicle brands reached new heights in the first quarter of 2026, with registrations for some increasing by as much as five times. Meanwhile, registrations for legacy brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Honda dropped by more than 35 per cent.

    Observers said this marks an increasing dominance for China and EV brands, a move that has been fast-tracked by recent changes to vehicle tax rebates.

    Automotive consultant Say Kwee Neng said: “We are seeing an acceleration of the fundamental reshaping of the dynamics of our car industry, which began when EV adoption grew in 2024 and 2025.”

    CarsElectric vehiclesBMWMercedes-Benz

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