Electric Vehicles - The Times Of Central Asia

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Electric Vehicles

Kyrgyzstan to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Key Tourist Region

State-owned Chakan GES OJSC will install 10 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan’s primary tourist destination, and home to Lake Issyk-Kul and the country’s largest mountain ski resort in Karakol. The initiative is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Energy as part of ongoing efforts to promote environmentally friendly transportation and enhance tourism and transport infrastructure in the region. The new stations will be located in Karakol, the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region (2 stations); Cholpon-Ata, the main resort hub (2); Balykchy (2); and the villages of Bokonbaevo (1), Kyzyl-Suu (1), and Tyup (2). All are scheduled to begin operations later this year. The number of electric vehicles in Kyrgyzstan is steadily rising. According to First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev, more than 200 EVs are imported into the country daily under a VAT exemption scheme. As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyzstan has an annual quota allowing for the duty-free import of up to 15,000 electric vehicles. Despite this growth, EVs still make up a small share of the national vehicle fleet. According to Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision Meder Mashiev, Kyrgyzstan had over 1.9 million registered vehicles as of early 2026, a 13% increase from 2024. Of these, 972,000 run on gasoline, 339,000 on diesel, 56,900 on gas, and 37,000 are hybrids. Electric vehicles account for just 0.8% of the total, or approximately 15,200 units. The government is also advancing plans to localize EV assembly as part of its broader strategy to expand eco-friendly transport options and combat air pollution, particularly in cities like Bishkek. In June 2025, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean firms EVSIS, NGS, and the Korea Automobile Environment Association. The agreement focuses on developing EV charging infrastructure in Bishkek. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, South Korean partners also intend to launch production of EV charging stations in Kyrgyzstan, aiming to establish local manufacturing and create a nationwide charging network across major cities and regions.

Electric Vehicles

China’s Expanding Electric Bus Footprint in Central Asia

In recent years, there has been a visible increase in electric vehicle exports from China to Central Asia. Although much public attention goes to electric cars, the spread of Chinese electric buses across the region is equally meaningful. Kyrgyzstan provides a clear example of this trend, where manufacturers such as Yutong and Anhui Ankai Automobile have become important actors in the country’s effort to modernize its public transport system. Through the Asian Development Bank-funded Urban Transport Electrification Project, Kyrgyzstan purchased 120 battery electric buses from Anhui Ankai Automobile. A complementary initiative by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development under its Green City program is supporting the delivery of 95 new 12-meter Yutong buses. The first batch of 20 Yutong vehicles reached the country in November 2025, marking a practical step forward in Kyrgyzstan’s shift toward cleaner transportation. Mutual Benefits and Strategic Alignment Cooperation in the electric bus sector offers advantages for China and Kyrgyzstan in different but interconnected ways. For Chinese companies, emerging markets such as Kyrgyzstan present new commercial openings at a time when access to some advanced markets faces stricter regulatory conditions. Exporting electric buses to Central Asia allows Chinese manufacturers to diversify revenue streams while strengthening their global presence. The growing visibility of Chinese green technologies also fits within the broader vision of the Green Silk Road, which aims to reinforce an image of China as a partner in sustainable development. China’s involvement in Kyrgyzstan’s electric mobility market broadens the scope of bilateral engagement. Previous cooperation often focused on large infrastructure and energy projects. The addition of electric mobility creates a more diversified framework that touches directly on urban life and community-level benefits. Opportunities for Kyrgyzstan’s Green Transition Kyrgyzstan stands to gain significantly from the expansion of electric public transport, especially with the support of multilateral development banks. Access to affordable and modern electric buses enables cities to renew outdated fleets and reduce their reliance on conventional diesel-powered vehicles. Environmental and public health benefits are among the most important outcomes. The transportation sector accounts for an estimated 28% of Kyrgyzstan’s national greenhouse gas emissions, making a transition to cleaner mobility essential for meeting sustainability goals. Electric buses can reduce air pollution in densely populated areas and improve overall urban health. Kyrgyzstan’s electricity mix relies heavily on domestically generated renewable energy, particularly hydropower. This makes the shift to electric mobility even more beneficial. When electric buses are powered by renewable sources, the overall carbon footprint of the fleet is significantly lower. Reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels further strengthens national energy security. A Gradual but Meaningful Transformation The growing presence of Chinese electric buses in Kyrgyzstan reflects a broader regional transformation. Public transport electrification is becoming an important element of Central Asia’s green development path. While challenges remain in finance, maintenance, and charging infrastructure, the overall direction is clear. Partnerships that bring together Chinese manufacturers, multilateral development institutions, and Central Asian governments are creating new opportunities for sustainable mobility. For Kyrgyzstan, these developments support cleaner cities and...

Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles in Kazakhstan: Growth, Gaps, and the Road Ahead

Despite growing interest in environmentally friendly transport, the share of electric vehicles (EVs) in Kazakhstan remains modest. This is due to their relatively late entry into the domestic market, persistent public skepticism, and an underdeveloped charging infrastructure. Nevertheless, electric mobility is already seen as a crucial component of Kazakhstan’s future transport strategy and its broader sustainable development agenda. These are among the conclusions of a new study analyzing the state of the EV fleet in Kazakhstan and proposing measures to develop urban electric transport infrastructure. According to official registration data, more than 19,000 electric cars and motorcycles were registered in Kazakhstan in the first half of 2025, a figure that reflects steadily rising interest in EV adoption. More EVs, Fewer Charging Stations If current trends continue, the EV fleet in Kazakhstan could increase more than tenfold by 2030, says Seydulla Abdullaev, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Head of the School of Transport Engineering and Logistics at the Satbayev Kazakh National Research Technical University. However, the pace of charging infrastructure development continues to lag. “Even with the current ratio of 25 electric vehicles per charging station, Kazakhstan will need between 4,000 and 8,000 charging points by 2030. This will require significant investment, an updated regulatory framework, and more active participation from the private sector,” Abdullaev told The Times of Central Asia. By comparison, in China, the global leader in EV production and charging infrastructure, one station serves an average of ten electric vehicles, a level considered high by industry standards. In Europe, EV charging stations are installed along highways at intervals of roughly 50 km. In contrast, only 23 such stations are currently operational on Kazakh highways. International best practices highlight the value of equipping residential complexes and parking lots with courtyard chargers, especially when backed by state subsidies. In Kazakhstan, a roadmap adopted in 2023 mandates that necessary EV infrastructure be established in all major cities by 2029. However, progress has been slow. In Almaty, which accounts for approximately 60% of the nation’s EV fleet, only 23 of the 40 planned charging stations were completed by 2024. “Our analysis shows that the key barriers to electric transport development include inadequate infrastructure, a limited service base, and underdeveloped technical documentation. Moving forward, progress will largely depend on political decisions, particularly in areas such as EV production subsidies, charging station expansion, and buyer incentives,” Abdullaev noted. Incentive Cuts Threaten Market Growth Kazakhstan’s EV market has increasingly aligned with global trends, particularly the dominance of Chinese manufacturers. Today, around 70% of EVs in the country are made in China, followed by about 20% from the U.S., and the rest from Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Japan. According to Natalya Tokmurzina-Kobernyak, Associate Professor at the School of Transport Engineering and Logistics at Satbayev KazNITU, this technological diversity demands a broad and well-supported service infrastructure. The global EV fleet, which stood at 58 million in 2020, had nearly quintupled by the end of 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. That figure is expected to reach...

Automobile Industry

Automotive Shift in Central Asia: China Edges Out Russia

In the 2020s, Central Asia has emerged as an increasingly attractive market for the automotive industry. A combination of investment inflows, technological development, and improved logistics, much of it initiated by China, has fueled this transformation. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has rapidly expanded its influence in the region’s automotive sector and is becoming the dominant external supplier in import-reliant markets, even in countries with domestic manufacturing capabilities. Manufacturing Hubs and Import Markets The Central Asian automotive landscape reflects the region’s economic diversity. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan serve as the main manufacturing hubs, while Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan rely heavily on imports. By the end of 2024, while the global automotive sector faced a slowdown, Uzbekistan recorded modest growth in car production, up 0.8% year-on-year. In contrast, Kazakhstan saw a 1.6% decrease. During the first seven months of 2025, Uzbekistan produced 212,200 passenger vehicles, a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Truck production rose sharply by 28%, from 1,800 to 2,300 units. With a population of approximately 37 million, Uzbekistan remains the region’s industrial center. The state-owned UzAuto Motors, formerly GM Uzbekistan, dominates more than 90% of the domestic passenger car market. Models such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, Nexia, and Tracker are built on General Motors platforms and produced at the main plant in Asaka, which has a capacity of 280,000 vehicles per year. Some of this output is exported to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. In a bid to stay competitive with Chinese brands, Uzbekistan launched a joint venture with BYD in 2023 and announced the construction of a $1.5 billion electric vehicle (EV) plant in the Ferghana region with Chinese support. Kazakhstan’s key market players include Allur and Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan. Allur’s Kostanay plant produces up to 125,000 Kia, Chevrolet, Skoda, JAC, Jetour, and Hongqi vehicles annually, and accounts for 61% of the national output. Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan in Almaty has a capacity of 50,000 units, covering 31% of production. Two new car plants are expected to open in 2025. The first, a $200 million investment by Kia, will be located in the Kostanay region and marks the company’s first Central Asian plant. With a planned capacity of 70,000 vehicles per year, the move underscores Kia’s long-term commitment to Kazakhstan. “We are excited about the promising opportunities opening up in the Kazakh market. Kazakhstan's economy is developing dynamically and on a large scale. We see great potential for our business in this market,” said Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song. The second plant, in Almaty, will assemble Chinese brands with a target of 90,000 vehicles annually. Rather than compete with Chinese imports, Kazakhstan has opted to localize production in partnership with Chinese manufacturers. Import-Dependent Markets and China’s Tailored Approach While Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan host minor assembly operations, primarily with Chinese partners, their automotive fleets, along with Turkmenistan’s, are largely replenished through imports. Since 2020, shifts in global logistics have transformed China from an alternative supplier into the dominant source of vehicles in these...

Electric Vehicles

Kazakh Lawmakers Propose Extending Import Benefits for Electric Vehicles

Olzhas Nuraldinov, a member of the Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, has proposed that Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov extend the country’s preferential import regime for electric vehicles (EVs). Under the Customs Union Commission’s Decision No. 130 of November 27, 2009, electric vehicles can currently be imported into Kazakhstan duty-free. However, the regulation imposes a quantitative cap, no more than 15,000 EVs in total, and is set to expire on December 31, 2025. As of September 25, 2025, more than 13,000 electric vehicles had been imported under the scheme, accounting for 87.2% of the quota, according to Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee. Lawmakers argue that it is unlikely the 15,000 vehicle threshold will be reached by year’s end and are therefore urging the government to extend the deadline. “Once the preferential regime expires, electric vehicle prices will rise by 30-40%, which will reduce demand and slow the development of eco-friendly transport,” Nuraldinov said in a formal parliamentary appeal to the prime minister. “We propose extending the preferential import regime for at least three more years and, if necessary, raising the issue with the Eurasian Economic Commission.” According to Nuraldinov, EV imports increased twelvefold in two years, from 1,245 units in 2022 to 15,700 in 2024. Some of these imports occurred outside the preferential framework, as roughly 1,900 vehicles can still be imported duty-free under the current quota. Despite this growth, electric vehicles still represent just 0.5% of all registered vehicles in Kazakhstan, compared to 35% in China and more than 22% in the European Union. Kazakhstan has over 6.4 million registered vehicles, more than 70% of which are over ten years old and emit five to seven times more pollutants than newer models, Nuraldinov noted. “Ending these benefits would undermine efforts to improve air quality and worsen environmental conditions,” he warned. “In Almaty, where the population exceeded 2.3 million this year, 80% of air pollution comes from vehicle emissions. Meanwhile, the electric transport sector has begun forming its own ecosystem, creating jobs, service centers, assembly sites, and a growing network of charging stations. Their number has increased from 200 to 1,200 nationwide.” As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, some lawmakers voiced concern in February about the potential strain that a growing EV fleet could place on Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure.

Electric Vehicles

Wheels of Influence: China’s Electric Vehicle Push in Central Asia

As domestic competition intensifies and protectionist barriers rise in Western markets, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are increasingly looking outward. One region emerging as a key destination is Central Asia, where China’s green tech ambitions align with local efforts to modernize and decarbonize transport systems. From affordable passenger cars aimed at private drivers to electric buses transforming public transit, Chinese EVs are quietly gaining traction across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Companies like Yutong are supplying e-buses for urban mobility, while fleets of electric taxis are beginning to appear in Dushanbe’s streets. This growing presence is more than just commercial - it signals a deeper shift in China’s regional engagement strategy, using clean technology as a vehicle for influence in a strategically contested space. There is an upward trend in the import of electric vehicles from China to Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 2024, Uzbekistan imported over 24,000 EVs, with Chinese manufacturers accounting for a staggering 99.5% of all imports. This marked an increase of more than 8,000 units compared to 2023 - nearly a 1.5-fold growth in just one year. A similar surge is visible in Kazakhstan. In 2023, the country imported around 6,875 Chinese EVs, but by 2024, although official figures are yet to be released, industry reports indicate a 36-fold increase in the sales of Chinese EVs year-on-year. Drivers of Import: Policy and Perception The surge in EV imports into Central Asia is driven by a convergence of motivations from both China and the region’s domestic policies. On the supply side, the rapid influx of Chinese EVs reflects a blend of strategic export redirection by Chinese automakers and receptive policy environments in the region. Faced with mounting trade restrictions and increasing regulatory pressure in Western markets, Chinese EV producers are pivoting toward emerging economies to safeguard growth. Central Asia has become a promising destination due to its untapped consumer base. On the demand side, Central Asian governments are enacting supportive policies to accelerate the green transition, making EV imports more accessible. For example, Uzbekistan has removed both excise taxes and customs duties on imported electric vehicles, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan benefit from a Eurasian Economic Union ruling that extends duty-free EV imports until the end of 2025, creating a favorable environment for consumers and fleet operators. In addition to these policy frameworks, a growing positive perception of Chinese EVs has emerged across the region. Chinese manufacturers are seen as offering a combination of affordability and quality, a crucial advantage in price-sensitive markets like Central Asia. For consumers and taxi fleet operators, the appeal goes beyond the sticker price - electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to operate. Unlike gasoline-powered cars that require frequent oil changes and filter maintenance, EVs offer lower long-term operating costs, making them a practical and economically attractive choice. Beyond Exports: Assembling a Local Presence However, China’s electric vehicle expansion in Central Asia goes beyond exports - it increasingly involves local production through joint ventures and assembly plants. In Uzbekistan, the state-owned...