Bangladesh’s passenger vehicle market continues to reflect the global trend towards larger vehicles, with sales of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers now surpassing those of smaller sedans and hatchbacks.
In 2025, SUV registrations exceeded those of small cars for the first time, marking a significant milestone.
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), small car registrations, which include sedans and hatchbacks, declined by over 10 per cent to 9,387 units in 2025, the lowest since 2012.
The decline contrasts sharply with the peak of nearly 22,000 small car registrations in 2017.
In comparison, the SUV market surged by 24 per cent to 10,732 units in 2025, up from 8,657 units in 2024.
The shift is attributed to changing consumer preferences towards more spacious, sporty, and family-friendly vehicles that have also emerged as a status symbol in society.
Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association President Abdul Haque explained that crossovers, which “now account for nearly 90 per cent of the large car market,” have become a dominant force behind the rise of large cars.
He said, BRTA registers both actual SUVs and crossovers under same category while crossovers are only shaped like SUVs without full features, including the strengths to win rough terrains.
Local assembly of SUVs and crossovers by brands like Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, MG, Proton, Bangla Cars, Perodua has also contributed to the affordability of these vehicles.
Some brand-new crossovers are now priced lower than similar reconditioned Japanese sedans, attracting budget-conscious buyers.
As of 2025, nearly 110,000 SUVs were registered in Bangladesh, with small cars still accounting for approximately 430,000 units.
Several other segments also saw growth.
The number of registered motorcycles on the road surged to 48.7 lakh units in 2025, from 7.56 lakh in 2010. However, in 2025 only 2.9 lakh of the 4.72 lakh units shipped by companies were registered with BRTA, raising concerns about the unregistered units.
The truck segment bounced back by 71.5 per cent to 4,581 units in 2025, after two tough years. However, the number is still much smaller than the pre-pandemic peak of 8,000-12,000 units sold annually.
The bus segment increased by 24.5 per cent to 1,888 units in 2025, while the microbus segment saw steady growth with a 3.9 per cent rise to 5,879 units.
Conversely, the pickup truck market saw a 4.1 per cent decline to 5,083 units and special-purpose vehicles dropped by 88.7 per cent to 30 units. Cargo vans experienced a 50 per cent decline to 1 unit due to broader economic challenges.
Despite temporary setbacks from time to time, the overall vehicle market in Bangladesh continues to expand.
By the end of 2025, the total number of registered vehicles reached 65.98 lakh, marking a 9.65 per cent increase from the previous year.
In 2010, there were only 14.27 lakh vehicles registered with the BRTA.
