By the end of 2024, data confirmed earlier projections regarding the recovery of the automotive market in Poland. Sales of new cars in dealerships reached their highest levels in five years, nearly equaling the pre-pandemic figures of 2019. The growth rate for new passenger car sales in Poland was 16.1% year-over-year (YoY), placing Poland first in the European Union in terms of growth dynamics. Following Poland on the podium were Bulgaria and Hungary.
While sales grew across all customer segments, the fastest growth was observed among individual buyers, who contributed significantly to the strong performance of the Polish market. However, companies and entrepreneurs still accounted for nearly 70% of total sales.
According to data from PZWLP (Polish Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association), the long-term car rental market grew by 8.5% YoY in terms of total fleet size, while the car rental industry (Rent-a-Car) recorded a 3% increase.
Record Growth in New Car Sales
In 2024, 551,500 new passenger cars were sold in Poland, marking a 16.1% increase from the previous year. This surge placed Poland at the top of the EU rankings for growth in new car sales, followed by Bulgaria (13.8% growth) and Hungary (12.9%). In comparison, the average growth in new passenger car sales across the EU was only 0.8%.
Companies Drive Sales but Individuals Lead in Growth
Companies and entrepreneurs continued to dominate the market, accounting for 68.25% of all new passenger car sales. However, this share decreased by 4.25 percentage points compared to 2023 due to the much faster growth in sales to individual buyers.
Sales of new cars to private individuals grew by an impressive 34.1% in 2024—a rare and remarkable increase. This growth was primarily driven by discount policies targeting individual buyers by manufacturers and dealers.
Notably, this increase in new car sales to individuals outpaced the rise in used car imports. Despite a 19.5% increase in imported used vehicles (880,000 cars in 2024), the demand for brand-new cars among private buyers grew even faster.
Long-Term Rental Grows, Dominated by Companies
Companies and entrepreneurs purchased over 376,000 new passenger cars in 2024, a 9.3% increase from the previous year. Of these, nearly 90,000 vehicles were acquired through long-term rental, which grew by 4.5% YoY. This segment accounted for nearly one in four new cars purchased by businesses.
While traditional financing methods such as credit, leasing, and cash purchases recorded a 10.8% increase, the long-term rental market remained stable and continued its steady growth.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Long-Term Rental Market
The long-term rental sector in Poland saw an 8.5% increase in active fleet size in 2024, with a total fleet of nearly 276,000 vehicles by year-end. However, the sector faced challenges due to cautious decision-making by large companies amidst economic uncertainty.
“2024 was a challenging year for the long-term rental market in Poland,” said Robert Antczak, CEO of PZWLP. “While the active fleet grew consistently throughout the year, expectations for growth were higher. Large companies, the primary drivers of this market, were conservative in expanding or renewing their fleets. However, the segment of micro and small businesses showed more dynamic growth, although they still represent a smaller portion of the market.”
Popular models in the long-term rental fleet included the Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla, and Kia Ceed.
Eco-Friendly Vehicles on the Rise
The transformation toward low- and zero-emission vehicles in long-term rentals accelerated in 2024. The share of diesel-powered vehicles dropped to 31.1%, while gasoline vehicles accounted for 54.9%. Meanwhile, eco-friendly vehicles, including hybrids and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), reached 14% of the fleet—an increase of 2.7 percentage points YoY.
BEVs now make up 3.4% of the long-term rental fleet, growing by 1.1 percentage points compared to 2023. However, compared to Western Europe, the adoption of electric vehicles in Poland remains low.
“The phasing out of the ‘My Electrician’ subsidy program for companies will likely slow down the development of electromobility in Poland,” warned Daniel Trzaskowski, Board Member of PZWLP. “Businesses are the primary buyers of electric cars in Poland, and excluding them from subsidies is a mistake that will hinder the progress of this market.”
Car Rental Market Sees Modest Growth
The Rent-a-Car sector in Poland experienced modest growth of 3% YoY in 2024.
“2024 was a challenging year for the Rent-a-Car industry in Poland,” said Paweł Piórkowski, Board Member of PZWLP. “Economic conditions have pressured companies to cut costs, including expenses for short-term rentals. This has also affected individual customers, leading to a decline in demand.”
The Rent-a-Car sector, represented by seven major Polish and international companies within PZWLP, operated a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles for short- and medium-term rentals by the end of 2024.
Source: CEO.com.pl
