Kazakhstan plans to begin assembling passenger vehicles for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD next year and launch buses under a domestic brand as it expands local vehicle production and develops its electric mobility sector.
The announcement came during a government meeting, where Astana Group chairman Nurlan Smagulov said the company had reached agreements with BYD following negotiations held in Shanghai earlier this month. Production of BYD passenger vehicles is expected to begin in 2027.
“Next year we will begin producing BYD passenger cars. The company manufactures only hybrid and fully electric vehicles,” Smagulov said, noting that BYD already operates a production facility in neighboring Uzbekistan and is seeking to expand its presence in the Kazakh market.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the government would support the project and urged the company to accelerate implementation, describing domestic electric vehicle production as a priority for Kazakhstan’s industrial policy.
Astana Group also plans to introduce a new bus brand, Astana, developed jointly by Kazakh and Chinese engineers. Assembly of diesel- and natural gas-powered buses is scheduled to begin in November, while production of electric buses is expected to start in March next year.
Adil Shaikemelov, deputy director of SaryarkaAvtoProm, part of the Allur Group, said the company is developing a domestic passenger car brand with an undisclosed international partner. He said the first vehicle under the new brand could enter production within three to four years.
The government is working with BYD to develop a nationwide network of high-speed charging stations, Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagaspayev said. Kazakhstan is also expanding its automotive workforce. Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek said about 4,000 students are enrolled in automotive-related programs at 19 universities, while more than 3,000 government scholarships have been allocated this year. Additional specialists are training abroad through the Bolashak scholarship program.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also preparing to manufacture autonomous SITRAK heavy trucks as part of broader efforts to localize vehicle production and deepen industrial cooperation with Chinese manufacturers.
