Poland automotive market shifts toward new car sales

The Polish automotive market is undergoing a significant structural shift as consumers increasingly opt for new vehicles from dealerships over imported used cars. According to data from the Association of Car Dealers, the ratio of new car sales to imported used cars has risen from approximately 45% in 2015 to about 70% in 2025. In 2025, Poland saw a record sale of nearly 600,000 new passenger cars, a substantial increase from 262,000 in 2009.

While the overall volume of used car imports is slowing, the United States has emerged as a growing source for Polish drivers. Imports from the US rose by 6.8% at the start of 2026, reaching over 53,000 vehicles and making the US the third most important source of used cars, surpassing Belgium and the Netherlands. However, data from CARFAX indicates that nearly 60% of inspected vehicles from the US had a history of accident damage, prompting warnings for buyers to verify vehicle histories.

General import trends show a decline in vehicles coming from traditional European sources, with significant drops in imports from Lithuania (38%), Sweden (34.9%), and Finland (19.2%), as well as Germany and France.