Electric cars became sales leaders for the first time / Freepik
A significant shift is unfolding in the Ukrainian automotive market: vehicles powered by gasoline are gradually yielding ground, with electric vehicles gaining traction in various market sectors. September 2025 marked a key moment, witnessing electric cars topping the sales charts for new passenger vehicles for the first time.
This information is provided by Delo.ua, citing data from the Institute for Car Market Research.
The distribution of fuel types within the market demonstrates varying patterns across different segments, yet the overarching trend remains consistent – a move towards electrification.
Domestic market
The situation in the local market remains comparatively stable. Gasoline retains its dominance with a 43% share, while diesel holds the second position at 28.5%, showing a slight decrease.
Gas-powered vehicles continue to steadily increase in popularity, claiming 21.2% of the market. Simultaneously, the proportion of electric vehicles has risen to 4.9%, pointing to a gradual increase in the availability of pre-owned electric vehicles.
Import of used cars
The segment involving the importation of used vehicles acted as the primary catalyst for change. The percentage of gasoline cars diminished to 44.1%, while electric cars experienced a notable surge, reaching 28.5%, marking an all-time high.
Demand for these vehicles is fueled by the approaching deadline for VAT reimbursement on customs clearance, slated for January 1, 2026. Diesel-fueled vehicles have maintained a steady position at 19.1%, while hybrids have experienced some decline, ceding space to fully electric cars.
New passenger car segment
The most pronounced alterations have occurred within the new passenger car sector. For the first time on record, electric vehicles emerged as frontrunners, seizing 33.9% of the market. Their market share grew by nearly six percentage points within a single month.
Gasoline-powered cars now occupy the second spot with 31.3%, hybrids account for 20.2%, and diesel has receded to 14.3%.
Experts attribute this trend to the robust expansion of Chinese manufacturers, who are actively marketing their models in Ukraine, along with the desire of consumers to leverage favorable customs clearance terms.
Nevertheless, experts caution that this expansion may be transient. Beginning in 2026, following the reinstatement of VAT, the cost of electric vehicles could potentially escalate by a minimum of 20%, inevitably impacting demand dynamics.
It is worth noting that in September, the Ukrainian car park saw an influx of almost 9.2 thousand battery electric vehicles (BEV). This represents an increase of 114% compared to September of the previous year.
