Singapore Car Market: September 2025 Snapshot

Executive Summary: Singapore's car market in September 2025 witnessed a clear shift towards electrification, with Electric Vehicles (EVs) leading new registrations. Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) continued their dominance as the preferred vehicle type. Chinese manufacturers like BYD are making significant inroads, challenging traditional European and Japanese brands. Overall, the market registered 4,704 new vehicles for the month.

Fueling the Future: Electrification Dominates

September 2025 registration data highlights a strong preference for electrified powertrains. Electric vehicles accounted for nearly half of all new registrations, a testament to Singapore's push for sustainable mobility and growing consumer confidence in EV technology. Combined with Petrol-Electric (Hybrid) and Petrol-Electric (Plug-In Hybrid) vehicles, electrified options represent over 85% of the market. Traditional petrol cars now make up a significantly smaller portion.

Fuel Type Breakdown

The Reign of the SUV and MPV

The popularity of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) shows no sign of waning, commanding over 60% of all registrations. Their versatility, spaciousness, and commanding road presence continue to appeal to Singaporean buyers. Multi-purpose Vehicles (MPVs) also held a strong second position, indicating a significant demand for family-friendly and practical transport options. Sedans remain a relevant choice, capturing over 14% of the market.

Vehicle Type Breakdown

Market Movers: Brands and Their Strategies

BYD emerged as the clear market leader in September, registering an impressive 1,006 vehicles. This strong performance is primarily driven by its robust EV lineup, particularly its Sports Utility Vehicles (592 units) and Multi-purpose Vehicles (215 units). This highlights the growing acceptance and market penetration of Chinese EV brands in Singapore.

Toyota, a long-standing market favourite, secured the second spot with 650 registrations, largely propelled by its strong hybrid offerings (502 units) across various vehicle types, especially MPVs and SUVs. BMW followed closely, showcasing a balanced portfolio across petrol (264 units) and electric vehicles (146 units). Honda and Tesla rounded out the top five, with Honda performing strongly in hybrids and petrol SUVs, and Tesla maintaining its position as a pure EV powerhouse, especially with its SUV models.

• Top 5 Overall Makes: BYD (1006), Toyota (650), BMW (468), Honda (377), Tesla (354)
• Top 3 EV Makes: BYD (925), Tesla (354), ZEEKR (158)
• Top 3 Hybrid Makes: Toyota (502), Mercedes Benz (236), Honda (216)
• Top 3 Petrol Makes: BMW (264), Honda (160), Toyota (146)

Implications for the Singapore Car Market

The September 2025 data paints a clear picture of an accelerating transition towards sustainable motoring in Singapore. The overwhelming preference for EVs and hybrids suggests that government incentives, rising fuel costs, and increasing model availability are effectively steering consumer choices. The dominance of SUVs and MPVs underscores a practical demand for space and utility, often met by the expanding range of electric models in these categories.

The strong showing by BYD and other emerging EV brands indicates a dynamic competitive landscape where innovation and pricing strategies will be key. Traditional automakers are adapting rapidly, as seen with BMW's and Mercedes-Benz's significant EV and hybrid registrations. As infrastructure for EVs continues to develop and technology advances, we can expect these trends to solidify, further reshaping Singapore's automotive future.