The entry of China’s BYD on the Slovak market is boosting the sale of electric vehicles (EVs), according to industry experts.

The number of EVs on Slovak roads soared to about 18,500 in the first half of 2025, according to estimates by the Slovak Association for Electromobility (SEVA), TASR reports.

The share of battery-powered vehicles in new car sales remained above 3% this year and exceeded 5% in June, a threshold that many industry experts view as significant for accelerating EV adoption.

Zuzana Fečová, spokeswoman for ČSOB, said the arrival of Chinese carmaker BYD is emerging as a strong market force.

“We also see this development at ČSOB Leasing. While the share of financed passenger and commercial vehicles decreased by 10% in the first half of the year, the category of battery vehicles (electric cars) recorded a y/y increase of up to 50%,” Petra Fenclová from ČSOB Leasing  told TASR.

In 2024, the number of electric cars in Slovakia grew by 53% year on year compared with 2023. More than 3,000 additional EVs were registered in the first six months of this year alone. SEVA forecasts that the total could reach 20,000 by the end of 2025 if the current pace continues, potentially marking the strongest year yet for electric mobility in the country.

Statistics from ČSOB Leasing indicate that most battery electric vehicle users are employees of large corporations, as company policies increasingly aim to cut emissions and operating costs. Environmentally friendly transport modes are also proving attractive to logistics firms, couriers and taxi services, while another growing customer group consists of city residents who drive short distances.

Fečová said that BYD’s entry into the Slovak market could further “shuffle the cards” in the competitive landscape, boosting availability and potentially lowering prices for consumers.