Electric cars are the most imported to Ukraine from China. Photo: Freepik
Despite political tensions and informal support for Russia in the war against Ukraine, China remains one of our country's key trading partners. This is especially noticeable in the automotive market: Chinese cars are confidently gaining demand among both new models and used cars. Experts even talk about a second wave of active imports from China.
In the Delo.ua article , we will consider the main advantages and weaknesses of Chinese cars that Ukrainians choose today.
China became the leader in auto imports to Ukraine
According to the Institute for Car Market Research, the Ukrainian car market is experiencing a “second wave” of Chinese cars. The first occurred in 2005–2008, when private importers began actively importing Chery, Geely, Lifan, and other affordable models. At that time, simple gasoline cars prevailed, which were attractive primarily for their low price.
The current wave looks completely different. Not only modern Chinese brands are entering Ukraine, but also cars from European, Japanese and American manufacturers that have moved production to China. At the same time, electric cars make up a key share. In 2024, 82% of cars imported from China were electric cars, and in the first half of 2025 their share was 81%.
According to the results of last year, almost 11 thousand cars with the “Made in China” marking were imported to Ukraine. This is 16.7% of all imports. And in July 2025, China became the leader in car imports to Ukraine, overtaking the USA and Germany.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the volume of imports from this country amounted to $147.87 million. In June, China was not among the top three at all, so the jump looks particularly significant. In total, in the first 7 months of this year, China imported vehicles worth over $400 million to Ukraine.
Advantages of Chinese cars
Chinese cars, primarily electric cars, continue to strengthen their position in the Ukrainian market due to their affordable price and lower operating costs. Owners note cheaper maintenance, spare parts, and electricity costs compared to traditional cars.
At the same time, previous comments about the quality of such cars are gradually becoming a thing of the past. According to the JD Power rating, Chinese brands Geely and BYD are even ahead of some premium European brands.
The support infrastructure is actively developing in Ukraine: there are about 45 official dealers and service centers, and central spare parts warehouses are located in Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa. Delivery of original components from China takes about 5–7 days.
Chinese mid-range and entry-level electric cars are about 30-70% cheaper than equivalent models in Europe or the US. However, when such cars are imported to Europe or Ukraine, a significant part of the price is tariffs, VAT, shipping and other costs, so the price advantage of the “Chinese” can be significantly reduced.
In general, Ukrainian consumers can expect that a Chinese car will be cheaper than an average European brand, but the extent of savings depends on the brand, model, equipment, and import channel – “official” or “gray”.
Disadvantages of the “Chinese” that should be considered when buying
Complaints about defects are emerging in private discussions, including cases where owners have been unable to receive basic parts like headlights for weeks. The quality of trim and electronics also remains inconsistent, especially with lesser-known brands.
Although official spare parts warehouses are already operating in Ukraine, a stable supply has not yet been established for a number of brands. In some cases, delivery takes too long, and the necessary parts are not available at all.
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