Tunisian Car Market is recovering in 2024 after negative performance in the first half of the year. YTD figures in September totaled 38,585 and fell 7.5% but monthly sales reached 5,098 (+12%).
Market Trend and Outlook
Tunisia’s economy grew 0.6% in early 2024, with 1.2% growth projected for the year, but continues to face long-term stagnation due to low investment and weak key sectors. Inflation eased to 6.7% in September, while the trade deficit narrowed to 7.8% of GDP, helped by declining energy import costs, strong olive oil exports, and a tourism rebound.
The country is expanding renewable energy projects and exploring tax reforms to balance labor and capital taxation, but rising domestic debt is straining the financial system and limiting private sector growth.
Tunisia’s EV market remains limited by infrastructure challenges, but is gaining traction, surging 130.7% in 2024, Still, it only represents less than 1% of total sales.
Hyundai took the lead, while BYD is rapidly expanding its presence in the growing segment.
Overall, the Tunisian vehicle market stagnated in 2024, rising just 2.3%, yet still trailing pre-2021 levels.
Brand-wise, the market leader was again Hyundai with 6,777 sales (-1.4%), followed by Kia with 5,517 (-13.1%), Peugeot with 4,111 (-12.5%). Suzuki with 3,493 (-13.2%) and Toyota with 3,398 (-29.9%).
Medium-Term Market Trend
The Tunisian vehicle market in recent years has had many ups and downs. Between 2010 and 2013 the market fluctuated in the 30k to 50k range. Following a 13.3% growth in 2013 the market began to grow for 4 consecutive years, reaching the current all-time high in 2017 at 62,400 (+2.2%). The trend reversed in 2018 resulting in 2 years of losses that took sales back down to 49,497 by the end of 2019.
The global Covid-driven crises didn’t affect the Tunisian light vehicle market, that actually grew 2.6% to 50,796 sales.
The momentum gained in 2020 continued through 2021, reaching 61,708 sales (+21.5%). In 2022 sales began to fall again, with projections showing that the year will close around the 55k mark (-9.5%). A combination of factors are behind the current industry struggle: the disruption in the global supply chain caused by a lack of raw materials, in particular for the production of microchips and Governments push towards Evs, an expensive alternative for low income consumers.
In 2023 the market was flat. Total sales reached 55,975 units (+0.7%). Market regained the momentum after the previous yearlost. Suzuki moves up into 5th place (+59.8%).
Tables with sales figures
In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 brands.
