10th Erbil International Car Exhibition Opens
The Erbil International Automotive Exhibition, now in its 10th iteration, was inaugurated today by Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This four-day event commenced on February 20 and will conclude on February 23.
The exhibition is open to the public daily from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, featuring 12 car manufacturers displaying 19 brands, along with various new models. A total of 160 participants from the automotive and spare parts sectors are showcasing their offerings, with 40 domestic companies and 120 from international markets, including approximately 90 from China, eight from Iran, six from Turkey, six from India, and two from Greece.
Current Landscape of the Automotive Market in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
According to industry insights from Focus2Move, the automotive sector in Iraq has experienced a robust growth of 27.5 percent in recent years. The market has demonstrated consistent expansion over the past five years, with leading brands like Toyota and Kia commanding one-third of the sales. Notably, Suzuki and Jetorier have emerged as the fastest-growing names in the industry, and the demand for electric vehicles surged by 164% in 2024, contributing to 2.42% of total sales.
In terms of market performance in 2024, Toyota achieved a significant growth of 35.9%, maintaining its position at the forefront, followed by Kia and Hyundai. The Toyota Hilux and Kia Frontailer were among the top-selling models.
Vehicle Penetration in the Kurdistan Region
Statistics indicate that the Kurdistan Region is home to approximately 2.35 million vehicles. Out of these, roughly 2.2 million are registered with the Interior Ministry, while an estimated 150,000 remain unregistered. The distribution of vehicles is as follows: around 1.2 million in Erbil, 670,000 in Sulaimani, and 500,000 in Duhok.
Despite the apparent congestion on roadways, vehicle imports continue to increase. Investigations by the Road Safety Organization reveal that between 100,000 to 120,000 vehicles are imported annually. The lack of a restructured public transportation system, alongside the surplus of vehicles, has resulted in environmental challenges, manifesting as both pollution and emissions concerns. Nevertheless, there are encouraging signs of rising interest in electric vehicles within the region.
Statistics from Virta Global show a pronounced growth trajectory for electric vehicles globally. In 2015, only five million electric vehicles were operating in the market. By 2023, China led sales with 8.1 million units, followed by Europe with 3.2 million, and the United States with 1.4 million.
While precise figures regarding electric vehicles in the Kurdistan Region remain unclear, there has been an increase in charging stations—12 currently exist in Erbil—as a positive indicator of growth in electric vehicle adoption. However, the absence of charging infrastructure between cities poses a challenge for wider electric vehicle integration.