BYD Uzbekistan Factory targets foreign markets with exports to Kazakhstan and Afghanistan

Jizzakh region is rapidly strengthening its position as a major automotive hub in Uzbekistan, preparing to launch its first exports of electric vehicles and introduce new international brands to the local market.

During a meeting with the president on April 24, the governor of Jizzakh, Ulugbek Mustafayev, highlighted the region's decade-long transformation from an agricultural area into a high-tech industrial center.

The governor noted that the industrial share of the province's gross regional product is now approaching 60 percent, a shift driven by significant investments in infrastructure, including electricity, gas, and communication networks. This development has allowed Jizzakh to emerge as the country’s second major automotive hub after Andijan region.

A landmark development in this sector is the commencement of electric vehicle exports by the BYD Uzbekistan Factory. According to governor Mustafayev, the enterprise is set to deliver its first batch of electric cars to Kazakhstan, with plans already in motion to expand into the Afghan market via Termez. The province has already secured export contracts worth $15 million for the current year.

In addition to export growth, the domestic market is preparing for the introduction of new models. A presentation for a new Kia model is scheduled for April 27 in Jizzakh. While official details are pending, social media reports suggest that production of the Kia K3 – a model manufactured by the South Korean corporation since 2023 – has already begun in Uzbekistan.

The automotive landscape in Uzbekistan is currently undergoing a shift in market dynamics. While total car production reached 457,900 units by the end of 2025, marking a 6.7 percent increase, the market share of the traditional leader, Chevrolet, has faced a decline. For the first quarter of 2026, Chevrolet’s market share dropped to 79.3 percent from 82.6 percent a year earlier, despite an increase in its total sales volume to 72,230 units.

Meanwhile, BYD is demonstrating the most significant growth in the country. The brand's market share rose to 8.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 5.4 percent in the previous year. The BYD Uzbekistan Factory sold 7,799 vehicles during the first three months of this year, averaging approximately 2,600 units per month.