The number of cars entering Albania is rising rapidly, with 76,000 vehicles imported from January to September this year—an average of 284 cars per day. This influx is already on par with the total car imports for 2023, highlighting the sharp increase in vehicle registrations for the domestic market.
 |
| A typical day of traffic in Tirana, "Dritan Hoxha" street |
High supply is evident as traffic grows on national roads and in major urban centers, leading to a shortage of parking spaces. Most vehicles are imported from South Korea, Italy, and Germany, accounting for 55% of the total imports. Among the 96 brands entering the market, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Audi dominate, representing 54% of the new fleet.
Notably, 80% of the cars imported this year were manufactured before 2015, indicating that most buyers are opting for vehicles with higher mileage, often over 100,000 kilometers. Tirana alone accounts for about 40% of these imports, with registered vehicles in the capital reaching 320,000. Nationwide, the total is now 915,000, which translates to an average of one car per three residents.
As car numbers rise, Albania faces growing challenges in managing traffic flow, parking, and urban congestion, raising concerns about infrastructure capacity and environmental impact.