Monthly Review April 2026

Preface – Economic Climate

The Israeli economy maintained a stable trajectory in April 2026, characterized by consistent market indicators and a notable improvement in fiscal metrics. Specifically, the deficit-to-GDP ratio narrowed to 3.8%, marking its lowest level since 2023. Other macroeconomic figures align with this continued stabilization: the Shekel traded at an average of ₪3.015 per USD, and GDP per capita was recorded at $64,082. Nevertheless, with the debt-to-GDP ratio standing at 68.5%, continuing a policy of responsible and cautious fiscal management remains essential to secure long-term sustainable growth.

The Israeli economy is advanced and is a member of the OECD. Its current GDP per capita is $64,082 and its growth rate in 2026 Q1 was 3.3%.

Israel maintains a 3.8% deficit of the GDP from May 2025 to April 2026.

The debt-to-GDP ratio decreased to 68.5% in 2025, and the unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in April 2026. As of April 2026, the annual inflation growth rate decreased to 1.9%. In April 2026, the short-term interest rate remained at 4%, while the long-term interest rate also stood at 4%.

Statistical Profile

Society

Population (April 2026): 10.244 Million

Economy

GDP per capita (April 2026): $ 64,082

Inflation (March 2026) (Annual Growth Rate): 1.9% 

Current Account Balance (April 2025): 2.8% of GDP

Trade in Goods and Services (April 2026): $14.06 billion

Finance

US Dollar Exchange rate (April 2026, Avg.): NIS 3.015

Euro Exchange rate (April 2026, Avg.): NIS 3.55

Long-term interest rates (April 2026): 4% Per Annum

Short-term interest rates (April 2026): 4% Per Annum

Government

Debt to GDP ratio (2025): 68.5%

Deficit to GDP (May 2025 - April 2026): 3.8% 

Motorization

Level of Motorization (2024): 421 Vehicles/1,000 Residence

Innovation and Technology

Gross Domestic Spending on R&D (2024): 6.76% of GDP

Environment

CO2 Emissions (2024): 5.61 Tonnes Per Capita

Jobs

Employment Rate (April 2026): 60.8% of the Working-Age Population

Official Unemployment Rate (April 2026): 2.9% of the Labour Force

New Cars and CV Registrations

 New Passenger Car Registration: January-April 2026

Passenger car registration: a decrease of 1.8% compared with January-April 2025.

In April 2026, the Israeli passenger car market registered 19,339 new cars – an increase of 3.1% compared with April 2025. Since the beginning of the year, 114,527 new cars were registered – a decrease of 1.8% compared with last year. Since January, 39,808 new cars with electric propulsion (BEV+PHEV) were registered. The market share of pure EVs currently stands at 10.9% with 12,486 deliveries.

New Passenger Cars Registration According to Brands: January-April 2026

New CV above 3.5-ton Registration: January-April 2026

Commercial Vehicles above 3.5 tons registration: 5.9% increase compared with January-April 2025.

In April 2026, the Israeli market for CVs above 3.5 tons and buses registered an increase of 3.3% in deliveries, with 961 new registrations, compared with 930 units in April 2025. Since the beginning of the year, 5,507 CVs above 3.5 tons and buses were registered, an increase of 5.4% compared with last year.

New CV above 3.5-ton Registration According to Brands: January-April 2026

New Bus Registration According to Brands: Jan-April 2026

Israel's Auto and Auto-Tech industry

Electreon Completes Acquisition of InductEV, Establishing a Global Powerhouse in Wireless EV Charging

Electreon (TASE: ELWS), a global leader in dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging, announced it has successfully closed the acquisition of InductEV Inc., the prominent US-based provider of ultra-fast, high-power stationary wireless charging for heavy-duty transit and freight. By integrating InductEV's assets and intellectual property, Electreon now offers the industry's most comprehensive wireless portfolio, spanning passenger vehicles, light delivery vans, and heavy-duty class-8 trucks.

This transaction combines two category leaders to simplify the transition to electric mobility for commercial fleets. Operators can now access a comprehensive suite of charging solutions for all the different charging use cases: in-road dynamic charging while driving, "opportunistic charging" or "top-up" charging during planned stops on the route, and overnight charging in depots and parking facilities. For every conductive charging solution (cable, trolley, or pantograph), Electreon has a superior, replaceable inductive solution.

Existing and future customers will benefit from a streamlined technology roadmap and expanded deployment support. The acquisition secures a robust supply chain that balances Electreon's offshore manufacturing efficiencies with InductEV's Build America Buy America (BABA) compliant offerings. This ensures North American transit agencies and federal contractors can access wireless technology while remaining eligible for critical government funding and incentives.

Cox Automotive to Acquire Israeli Fullpath, Bringing AI-Native Data and Marketing Infrastructure to the Industry’s Largest Dealer Network

Cox Automotive announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Fullpath, a leading Israeli AI-powered Customer Data Platform (CDP) and marketing automation company serving the automotive retail industry, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to close within 30 days. Upon close, the combination will bring together the industry’s most trusted dealer technology partner and one of automotive’s most advanced AI and data platforms – enabling dealers to unify their data, automate their marketing, and deliver personalized customer experiences at scale.

Fullpath’s platform resolves shopper identity across years of CRM and DMS history into a single, actionable profile, delivering AI-driven campaigns with unmatched personalization, scale, and efficiency with lead handling, and individual-level attribution from ad click to purchase. These capabilities directly complement Cox Automotive’s existing portfolio, which includes VinSolutions, Dealer.com, Autotrader, and Kelley Blue Book.

The acquisition accelerates the industry’s shift from manual, campaign-based marketing toward always-on, data-driven retailing. This combination creates an opportunity to connect Fullpath’s customer data platform with Cox Automotive’s insights from Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Dealer.com, reaching tens of millions of active car shoppers. With 40,000+ existing dealer relationships, Cox Automotive is positioned to bring Fullpath’s technology to scale in a way no standalone platform could achieve independently.

For existing Fullpath clients, the same team, products, and service levels will remain in place following the close. The near-term focus is growth and stability - expanding Fullpath’s reach and resources while preserving the innovation-first culture that has driven its success.  Upon the close of the transaction, additional integration details will be shared.

Innoviz Enters Defense and Homeland Security - Enabling Physical AI-Driven 3D Situational Intelligence

Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: INVZ), a leading supplier of high-performance, automotive-grade LiDAR sensor platforms, today announced its entrance to the defense and homeland security  markets, with its unique solutions, InnovizSMART and InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range (ULR) LiDAR sensors, as a suitable solution also for defense and HLS customers. Developed for civilian applications, Innoviz LiDARs' rugged design, extended detection range, and automotive-grade reliability make them well-suited for the demanding requirements of defense and security operations. This reflects Innoviz's view regarding the growing role of Physical AI systems, which must perceive and operate within real-world physical constraints, including in mission-critical security and defense environments.

With growing demand from governments, police forces, airport security agencies, and others worldwide, Innoviz is uniquely positioned to serve the homeland security market with no additional investment required. Innoviz LiDARs are designed to comply with the most demanding automotive standards, deliver long-range 3D detection and resilience to dust, debris, and extreme temperatures, capabilities relevant to the environments often encountered in defense and border security applications.

With the same technological foundation as Innoviz's proven automotive LiDAR solutions, InnovizSMART captures high-resolution 3D point cloud data at distances of up to 450 meters, while InnovizTwo ULR reaches up to 1 kilometer, both in a compact form factor. InnovizTwo-based LiDARs include PoE (Power over Ethernet) connectivity to support streamlined deployment on existing infrastructure. Physical AI systems depend on deterministic, real-time 3D perception to maintain accurate World Models of complex operational environments, and Innoviz LiDARs are designed to deliver the range, reliability, and resolution needed to support these models.

Sonol and Enlight Expand Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energies

Enlight Renewable Energy and the Sonol Group signed an agreement to supply electricity to approximately 250 Sonol consumption points across the country and an option to purchase green certificates (IRECs). Enlight will supply Sonol with green electricity in a volume of approximately 20 GWh per year, for at least three years. The agreement, led by Enlight's subsidiary, Enlight Local, expands the cooperation between the companies and joins an energy storage agreement signed with Sonol Real Estate for the construction and operation of independent energy storage facilities of up to 900 MWh at high or extra voltage at selected sites across the country at an estimated investment of NIS 450 million.

The partnership with Enlight will allow Sonol to transform traditional fueling complexes into smart energy hubs, capable of managing their consumption independently, reducing loads from the national transmission grid, and providing a solution for energy-intensive infrastructure such as fast charging stations for electric vehicles.

Sonol joins a number of leading companies in the economy that have already entered into similar agreements with Enlight, including Amdocs, Applied Materials, Keter, Mbeve, the Weizmann Institute, Menivim Keren REIT, NTA, Soda Stream, and more.

The Shlomo Group is Entering the Vehicle Service and Repair Sector with Dozens of Professional Workers from India

Shlomo Group, one of the largest automotive companies in Israel, announces a strategic entry into the garage and automotive service center market. As part of the move, the group is establishing an independent network of service centers for private customers nationwide, with the aim of controlling the entire value chain of the automotive industry, which combines leasing and vehicle sales with maintenance and upkeep services. The move will allow the group to cut off its dependence on external service providers, optimize handling times, and ensure a uniform and high standard for its customers, including franchises of various importers to handle a wide variety of brands.

The first milestone in the expansion strategy is the inauguration of an innovative and advanced service center on Timna Street in the Holon industrial zone. The new center covers an area of ​​approximately 4,000 square meters, including approximately 100 parking spaces, and is capable of receiving approximately 70 vehicles per day of all types of propulsion: gasoline, diesel, and electric. The work area includes 19 lifts, the most advanced diagnostic systems in Israel, and dedicated equipment for treating electric vehicles (EV) and high-voltage batteries.

In response to the national challenge of a shortage of technical teams in the automotive industry, and to ensure continuity and uncompromising quality of service, the Shlomo Group has integrated dozens of professional workers from India who have undergone rigorous specialized training into the center. These teams work integrally alongside dozens of local professionals specializing in engines, gearboxes, and advanced technological systems.

The decision to enter the service center market comes against the backdrop of unprecedented growth in the group's activities in the worlds of private leasing and first-hand vehicle sales. Today, over 40,000 private customers benefit from the Shlomo Group's services, a figure that is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. In line with these forecasts, the group is preparing to expand the network, following the opening of the center in Holon; additional central service centers are expected to open soon in Be'er Sheva and Netanya.

Samelet Group Continues to Consolidate its Operations in Europe with a Strategic Move

Samelet Group has signed an agreement with the Chery Group and will lead the import and distribution of the brand's vehicles in Switzerland. The move joins Samelet's operations as a Chery importer in Romania and marks another stage in its international expansion, with its entry into the fourth country in which it will operate alongside Israel, Romania, and Greece. Expanding the cooperation with Chery and adding another market to the group's activities is a natural continuation of the joint work built in recent years and expresses the trust between the parties and the continued establishment of Samelet's position as an expanding international automotive player.