Uzbekistan passenger car production volume roughly doubled year on year to 53,370 vehicles in 2M23, according to the official statistics agency.

It added that in January-February, Uzavtosanoat (UzAuto), which producers Chevrolet vehicles under licence, produced 16,067 Cobalt cars (up 2.1 times y/y), 7,361 Gentras (42.3% y/y increase), 11,752 Damas (24.5% y/y increase), 6,541 Trackers (up six-fold y/y) and 5,357 Onix (up 47.8% y/y).

The two months also saw Uzbek automakers producer 2,004 Chery cars (a 2.4-fold y/y increase), 4,112 of KIA cars (up 3.2-times y/y), 38 Exeeds and 135 Havals.

On March 19, bne IntelliNews reported how China’s BYD Auto, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has asked Tashkent to limit the “disorderly” import of EVs into Uzbekistan in tandem with its production move into the country.

The development has prompted some objections relayed by local media over how BYD and Uzbek partner UzAuto are looking for EV market dominance in the Central Asian nation that won’t be to the benefit of the consumer and will mean unfair competition for rivals.

BYD has asked the government to “limit the indiscriminate import of electric vehicles that do not meet local climatic and road conditions, and do not have an official guarantee”.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade officials, as well as state-controlled UzAuto, to by July 1 submit to the Cabinet proposals aimed at meeting the investor’s demand on regulating imports.