Jordan's hybrid vehicle imports rise 31% YoY in H1
Released by the Jordan Free Zones Investors Commission, the numbers indicated that despite the increase, total vehicle clearance from the Zarqa Free Zone to the local market dropped by 9 percent annually during the same period, the Jordan News Agency, also known as Petra, reported.
The rise in imports of these vehicles aligns with a broader regional trend. An analysis published by market research firm Claight in December projects the hybrid vehicle industry across the Middle East and Africa to see a compound annual growth rate of 17.7 percent between 2025 and 2034.
The newly released Petra statement said: 'The commission's representative for the automotive sector, Jihad Abu Nasser, attributed the drop to shifts in consumer demand and the impact of recent regulatory and tax measures, particularly those affecting electric vehicles. He noted that several vehicle categories saw a downturn, including electric and diesel models.'
Gasoline car imports stayed fairly steady, with a slight 3 percent jump year on year during the first half of the year. The number of cleared gasoline cars increased from 2,683 to 2,753, representing a 70 vehicle increase.
Re-export activity from the free zones saw significant growth, with vehicle exports rising by 67 percent annually to reach 39,641 re-exported vehicles in the first half of the year.
The Petra statement added that Abu Nasser said the robust re-export growth underscores the responsiveness of Jordan's free zones to regional market demands, particularly from Syria and Iraq.
'He emphasized that the decline in local market clearances, combined with changes in consumer preferences and new policies, highlights the need for regulatory clarity and a stable investment environment. He added that the commission continues to monitor these developments closely due to their significant impact on the vehicle sector and investment activity in the free zones.'
Across the Middle East, interest in environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional combustion engine vehicles is gradually rising, as automakers accelerate the rollout of new EV models each year.
Saudi Arabia aims to have at least 30 percent of its cars be electric-powered by 2030, following its pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
Meanwhile, the UAE is pushing for 42,000 EVs to be on its streets within the next decade. To meet the rising demand for green mobility, the UAE opened its first EV manufacturing facility in Dubai Industrial City in 2022, at a total cost of $408 million.
The Gulf Cooperation Council's EV market is highly competitive, with Tesla at the forefront and brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz close behind.
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