Chinese New Energy Vehicle Exports To Uzbekistan Show Stark Polarization: PHEV Shipments Surge 85%, While PureElectric Volumes Plunge By 270%

  In Q1 2026, Uzbekistan spent approximately US$279 million on passenger cars imported from China, marking a mere 1% yearonyear increase with overall sales volume largely flat. However, there has been a dramatic shift in vehicle model preferences.Put simply, plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are taking the market by storm, while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are slumping sharply.

  Chinese BEVs once made up half of Uzbekistan's car imports last year but account for only 20% this year. Sales volumes plummeted from 8,000 units to 3,000 units, a 270% drop. By contrast, PHEVs have gained immense popularity: import value jumped from US$95 million to US$176 million, an 85.3% surge, with their market share soaring to 63.1%. Conventional gasoline cars saw little change, holding a 16.3% market share with just a 2% growth rate.

  By vehicle type, Uzbekistan's imports of Chinese plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have skyrocketed, dominated by station wagons/hatchbackstyle generalpurpose models, which account for 90% of total PHEV imports. While PHEV SUV imports doubled to US$2.86 million, their overall impact remains limited. In terms of engine displacement, 1.0–1.5liter units drive 70% of the growth, and 1.5–2.0liter PHEVs have emerged from scratch with explosive growth rates.

  The overall import volume of gasolinepowered vehicles stays stable, yet its structure is shifting: generalbody models make up 80% of gasoline car imports with a 10% value increase; sedans slumped 69%, and smalldisplacement models have nearly disappeared. Import value of gasolinefueled SUVs nearly doubled, lifting their market share to 13%.