Uzbekistan's Electric Vehicle Imports Double, Reaching Record High in First Ten Months of 2025

Record Surge in EV Imports

Uzbekistan has witnessed an unprecedented surge in electric vehicle (EV) imports, with figures doubling in the first ten months of 2025 compared to the corresponding period last year. A record total of 47,264 electric cars were imported into the country between January and October 2025, amounting to a value of $544.1 million, according to data from the Customs Committee. This remarkable volume surpasses the total EV imports for the entirety of both 2023 and 2024, signaling a significant acceleration in the nation's adoption of electric mobility.

Growth Trajectory and Market Dynamics

The rapid increase in EV imports underscores a transformative shift in Uzbekistan's automotive landscape. For context, the country imported 24,091 electric cars in all of 2024, and only 16,084 units in 2023. The average cost of imported electric vehicles has also seen an upward trend, reaching $10,300 in October 2025, an increase from $9,900 in September 2025 and a notable rise from $5,200 in October 2024. While October 2025 saw 6,933 EV imports, September 2025 recorded an even higher figure of 11,534 units. This robust growth in the EV sector contrasts sharply with the decline in traditional vehicle imports; gasoline-powered car imports fell by half, and hybrid vehicle imports decreased more than six-fold during the same ten-month period of 2025 compared to 2024.

Dominance of Chinese Suppliers and Policy Support

China has emerged as the overwhelming primary supplier of electric vehicles to Uzbekistan. Between January and September 2025, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 39,798 units out of a total of 40,345 EV imports. Other contributing countries included Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany, and the USA. This import boom is significantly bolstered by supportive government policies. Uzbekistan has implemented measures such as reduced import tariffs and subsidies for EV purchases. Notably, excise and customs duties are not applied to EV imports, and taxi drivers utilizing electric or hybrid vehicles benefit from an exemption from license fees until 2030. The government also plans to phase out import tariffs on new energy EVs by 2030 to further encourage localized production.

Expanding Infrastructure and Local Production Efforts

To accommodate the growing fleet of electric vehicles, Uzbekistan is actively expanding its charging infrastructure. The government aims to install a total of 32,400 charging stations across the country by the end of 2025. New regulations, effective February 1, 2025, mandate that public parking lots, including those at government buildings, shopping centers, and gas stations, must allocate at least one parking space for EV charging, with a target of 5% of total spaces equipped for this purpose. In parallel with import growth, Uzbekistan is also fostering domestic EV production. A joint venture between UzAuto Motors and Chinese company BYD commenced mass production of EVs in mid-2024 at a plant in the Jizzakh region, with an initial annual production target of 50,000 cars. In the first five months of 2025, the BYD plant alone manufactured 5,495 electric vehicles, signaling a comprehensive strategy to develop a sustainable electric vehicle ecosystem within the country.