Battery over Combustion: Uzbekistan's Car Market Shifts Toward Electric

Uzbekistan is witnessing a structural pivot in its automotive imports. Data for January–August shows a decisive move away from internal combustion engines (ICE) toward electric and hybrid vehicles, driven by a combination of fiscal incentives and fuel instability. The Numbers: Electric Dominance In the first eight months of the year, Uzbekistan imported 79,046 passenger cars with a total value of $1.1 billion. The composition of these imports reveals a stark divide: Electric Vehicles (EVs): 54,826 units (69.4% of total imports), valued at $614 million. This is an increase of 14,519 units compared to the same period last year. Hybrids: 11,130 units (14.1% of total imports), valued at $240 million. Hybrid imports grew nearly fivefold, up from 2,261 units previously. Petrol Vehicles: 13,070 units (16.5% of total imports), valued at $246.9 million. This represents a decline of 481 units (3.5%) compared to last year. Diesel: A marginal 20 units, valued at $1.5 million. Price Erosion Across Categories Despite the volume surge in EVs and hybrids, the average cost per unit is falling across the board, suggesting a market shift toward more affordable models or increased competition among suppliers: