Kazakhstan saw a 36-fold rise in the sale of Chinese EVs in 2024, with projections reaching 40,173 vehicles by 2035. Kyrgyzstan remained a key importer, Tajikistan granted a decade-long tax exemption for EV imports, and Uzbekistan launched its first Chinese EV factory, with another planned for 2025.
“China’s push for EV infrastructure in Central Asia is strategic,” notes China-Central Asia expert Adina Masalbekova. “Beyond trade, it reduces petroleum dependency and deepens economic and geopolitical ties with Beijing.”
“Authoritarian governments have used these projects for political leverage, making the region increasingly dependent on Chinese economic and technological influence.
Chinese investments in Uzbekistan’s economy have quintupled, reaching $25 billion, and the number of joint ventures has tripled.
Over the past decade, China has invested $2.6 billion in Tajikistan, with 57 percent of it being direct investments. More than 700 companies with Chinese participation have been established in the country.
In 2023, Kazakhstan experienced a significant increase in the number of registered electric vehicles, rising 9.2 times, from 914 to 8,366 units.
The government has already passed a law establishing a roadmap for infrastructure, to be implemented by 2029.
Kyrgyzstan has become the leading re-exporter of Chinese cars to Russia among Central Asian countries.
Meanwhile, China’s Neta Motors is expanding into Kyrgyzstan. In February 2024, construction began on an EV and commercial truck plant near Bishkek in collaboration with Hubei Zhuoyue Group, with an initial $115 million investment.
China accounts for 36.7 percent of the republic’s external debt, making it the country’s largest creditor.
“As EV adoption, infrastructure development, and joint production projects grow, so does the region’s dependency on Chinese investments,” said Masalbekova. “China is solidifying its image not just as an economic powerhouse, but as a leader in advanced technology.”