Youth put the pedal down on Bahrain’s auto growth

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s car imports rose 8.8% in the first eight months of 2025, driven by younger buyers and a buoyant local market, official data shows.

From January to August, 29,150 vehicles were imported, up from 26,796 during the same period last year. The growth reflects steady population gains, expanding housing projects, wider consumer lending and bank finance, and stable logistics through Khalifa Bin Salman Port, the country’s main vehicle gateway.

The first half closed with 22,226 vehicles, a 15% yearon-year increase, with demand staying firm until midsummer before easing slightly in July and August. January recorded the highest monthly total at 5,365 units, while May marked the seasonal low at 2,453.

The monthly run was 3,132 in February, 3,870 in March, 3,472 in April, 3,934 in June, 3,597 in July and 3,327 in August. Car imports have rebounded strongly since the Covid-19 downturn, climbing from 27,262 in 2020 to 44,216 in 2024 — the highest since 2017. The upward curve highlights Bahrain’s resilience and the growing influence of younger consumers on the automotive market.

Bahrain records about 28,000 to 35,000 new-car sales each year, dealer figures show, alongside an active market for used imports from the United States, Japan and South Korea.