Whatcha Got Cookin' in Uzbekistan's Car Scene These Days?
Foreign automakers experiencing increased popularity among Uzbekistan car buyers
For nearly two decades, Uzbek motorheads could only drool over Daewoos and Chevys, thanks to the government-controlled UzAvtosanoat's monopoly. But with the ongoing economic loosening, the tire rotation's kicked into overdrive.
Take a gander around Uzbekistan's roads in 2023, and you'll witness a vibrant mix of automotive brands festooning the highways—a stark contrast to years past, where Chevys reigned supreme. According to Gazeta.uz, more than 73,000 vehicles cruised into the country in 2023—double the amount from the previous year. Add up the dollars, and it amounts to a staggering $1.8 billion!
Compared to the 12.7% rise in vehicle imports in 2022, last year was a a roaring bull market, with 2021's measly $588 million import value a distant memory. Chinese carmakers are knocking it outta the park, hustling vast quantities of vehicles to Uzbekistan. In fact, 80% of foreign-purchased rides came from the Middle Kingdom in 2023, a humongous leap from 36.9% in 2022.
Not that Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United States are slacking off, they're just taking a slightly smaller slice of the pie. Russia's auto sector, on the other hand, is experiencing a cold shoulder, with exports to Uzbekistan plummeting after economic sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Another hot topic? Electric vehicles, baby! President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported that sales of these babies have skyrocketed ten-fold in the past three years. According to the big boss himself, 35% of vehicle imports in 2023 were electric and hybrid vehicles.
Catalyzing the EV revolution, Mirziyoyev obliged a decree in December 2022, commanding the installation of 2,400 charging stations for electric vehicles over two years. All posh joints like shopping centers, gas stations, and highways after January 1, 2024, must set up EV charging stations too. Nice, eh? Home turf operators get to decide their own tariffs for electricity, so win-win!
Uzbekistan's diverse car market is also broadening its horizons thanks to a wave of investors hailing from—you guessed it—China. In March 2023, the President himself jetted off to the headquarters of mega Chinese automaker BYD in Shenzen to launch an assembly plant for hybrid and electric cars in the Jizzakh region with a production capacity of 50,000 units per year. Revvving up production capacity to 300,000 units in the near future, the factory will be the latest addition to China's thriving Uzbek automotive empire.
The flowering of Chinese investment doesn't end there. In September 2022, Uzbek vehicle distribution company Roodell partnered with Wuhu-based Chery Automobile to start assembling cars in a Jizzakh plant—another seal in China's growing grip on Uzbekistan's car market. The auto industry's on a roll, so buckle up and get ready for the ride!
By the Numbers
- 82%: Percentage of vehicle imports coming from China
- 12,071: Vehicles imported in the first four months of 2025
- $213.7 million: Value of imported vehicles in the first four months of 2025
- 55.6%: Market share held by UzAuto Motors
- 122,000: Number of vehicles produced in the first four months of 2025
- 37%: Annual growth in electric vehicle sales
- 22%: Increase in used car sales in April 2025 compared to April 2024
Source: Gazeta.uz, Kun.uz, Asia-Plus
- The surge in vehicle imports in Uzbekistan has not only led to a diverse range of automotive brands on the roads, but has also injected $1.8 billion into the country's economy in 2023.
- Electric vehicles have experienced significant growth in Uzbekistan, with sales increasing ten-fold in the past three years, accounting for 35% of vehicle imports in 2023.
- Chinese companies are at the forefront of the boom in Uzbekistan's automotive industry, with 82% of foreign-purchased vehicles in 2023 coming from China, and Chinese manufacturers establishing multiple assembly plants in the country, including a hybrid and electric car plant by BYD in Jizzakh.
