Sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Kazakhstan more than tripled in January–August. During this period, official dealers sold 6,003 vehicles, El.kz reports citing the Kazakhstan Automobile Union.
The market grew by 207.4% compared with the same period last year. The statistics cover battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and extended-range electric vehicles.
The most significant growth was recorded in vehicles that can be charged from an external power source while also being equipped with a petrol engine or generator. Over the eight-month period, consumers in Kazakhstan purchased 4,351 such vehicles, compared with slightly over 1,000 units sold during the same period a year earlier.
Interest in fully electric vehicles also increased, although at a more moderate pace. Dealers sold 1,652 electric vehicles, compared with 945 during the corresponding period of the previous year.
President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Anar Makasheva Union attributes the growing popularity of plug-in hybrid vehicles to their operational characteristics. When choosing a vehicle, consumers consider how convenient it will be to use both in urban areas and on long-distance journeys.
BYD was the market leader in this segment. From January to August, official dealers sold 3,208 vehicles of the Chinese brand. The company also confirmed this figure in its report, citing data from the Automobile Union.
Geely Galaxy ranked second, with 1,244 vehicles sold. Li took third place, while Zeekr and ROX also ranked among the five most in-demand brands.
Geely Galaxy EX5 EM-i was the most popular, with 1,205 units sold in Kazakhstan. Other models included the Song Plus EV, Chazor, and Yuan Up.
The Automobile Union also separately reported sales of conventional hybrid vehicles, which recharge their batteries while driving and do not require connection to the electricity grid. During the eight-month period, dealers sold 1,284 such vehicles. Toyota accounted for the majority of sales, while significantly lower volumes were recorded by Lexus and Porsche.
