Electric Vehicles Account for a Quarter of Ukraine's 444,000 Imported Cars

Vehicle Imports into Ukraine

According to Главком: Ukraine imported 444,860 vehicles last year, a 17% increase compared to 2024. Despite this growth, import levels remain nearly one-third lower than those recorded in 2021. Over 70% of these imported cars were used, with the average age of an imported vehicle being 9 years-two years younger than the 11-year average in 2021. The oldest vehicle imported was a 1967 Honda Monkey moped, while the most senior electric vehicle was a 15-year-old Peugeot iOn. This trend highlights a market adapting to economic pressures while gradually modernizing its fleet.

Import Trends and Regional Distribution

A significant trend is the sharp rise in electric vehicle imports. One in every four cars imported last year was electric, totaling 109,309 units. For comparison, diesel car imports numbered 94,014, while gasoline vehicles accounted for 195,059. Among the 504 luxury vehicles subject to a special tax, half were electric. Volkswagen was the most popular imported brand overall, and the Tesla Model Y was the single most imported model. Volkswagen also led registrations in 20 of Ukraine's regions.

Regionally, Kyiv registered the highest number of imported vehicles at 80,425. Lviv Oblast followed with 51,730 cars, with other leading regions including:

• Kyiv Oblast - 28,179 vehicles
• Dnipropetrovsk Oblast - 26,311 vehicles
• Rivne Oblast - 23,608 vehicles

Brand preferences varied by region: BMW led sales in Odesa Oblast, Renault was top in Chernihiv and Donetsk Oblasts, and the motorcycle brand Spark was most in demand in Kherson Oblast. Among electric vehicles, Tesla was the number-one brand in 22 regions, while Volkswagen led in Zakarpattia Oblast and BYD was first in Sumy Oblast.

In January 2026 alone, Ukraine's vehicle fleet grew by over 17,000 used cars, with import volume for that month surpassing the figure from January of the previous year by 22%. These figures point to a sustained demand for used cars alongside the growing popularity of electric vehicles.

The shifting patterns in Ukraine's vehicle imports reflect significant changes in consumer preferences, particularly toward electric cars, which may indicate a rise in environmental awareness among the population.

Given that electric cars now constitute a substantial portion of imports, this is likely to influence the future development of charging infrastructure and policies supporting green initiatives. At the same time, the steady demand for used vehicles points to the economic realities facing many Ukrainians, who may opt for more affordable transport amid ongoing economic challenges.