Kazakhstan's auto market soared 51.4% in May
time2025/07/01
- Kazakhstan's auto market soared 51.4% in May: Hyundai remained the champion, and Changan entered the top four for the first time.
Kazakhstan's auto market ushered in strong growth in May 2025. According to the latest data released by the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAU), the national new car sales reached 19,377 units that month, a year-on-year increase of 51.4%, of which passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold 18,576 units, and trucks and buses sold 801 units. KAU emphasized in the notice that this growth continued the previous positive trend and the market recovery trend has stabilized.
Hyundai topped the list with 4,004 units, and Chinese brands performed well
From the perspective of brand competition, South Korea's Hyundai won the championship with a single-month sales of 4,004 units, a year-on-year increase of 66.3%, and a market share of more than 20%. Chevrolet ranked second with 2,344 units (+74.3%), and Kia ranked third with 2,004 units (+5.3%). It is worth noting that the Chinese brand Changan ranked among the top four for the first time, with monthly sales of 1,526 units (+124.7%), becoming one of the fastest growing automakers. Chery ranked fifth with 1,367 units (+47.1%).
KAU pointed out that the intensive marketing activities of large automakers and the preferential car purchase plans launched by dealers in cooperation with banks are the core driving forces for demand. In addition, consumers' preference for cost-effective models continues to tilt towards Chinese brands, and the rise of Changan and Chery is a microcosm of this trend.
Cumulative sales in the first five months exceeded 85,000 units, and the annual sales may hit a record high
According to the cumulative data from the beginning of the year to May, Kazakhstan's total new car sales from January to May 2025 reached 85,467 units, an increase of 28.7% over the same period last year. KAU predicts that if the current growth rate is maintained until the end of the year, annual sales are expected to exceed the 200,000 mark, setting a new record. This growth is closely related to the regional market linkage effect. As the Russian automotive supply chain has not yet fully recovered due to sanctions, Central Asian countries have become a new growth pole for Chinese, Japanese and Korean automakers. Take Hyundai as an example. Its best-selling models Santa Fe and Creta in Kazakhstan are both from local Korean factories, while Changan and Chery rely on the low-cost advantages of production bases in western China (such as Xi'an and Chongqing) to quickly seize the market.