The Swiss car market begins 2026 in difficulty

In January 2026, the Swiss automotive market saw a significant decline in new car registrations. Only 14,027 units were registered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, marking a 5.1% decrease compared to January of the previous year. This drop exacerbates the aging of the vehicle fleet, complicating efforts to achieve climate targets. CO2 regulations, often described as over-regulation, are being criticized for contributing to this negative trend.

The contrast with December 2025 is striking, when registrations had almost doubled. This phenomenon is linked to efforts by dealerships to avoid CO2 penalties. Peter Grünenfelder of auto-suisse is calling for a swift review of policies to align climate and transport regulations with market realities. Without change, climate targets could remain unattainable, harming the economy.