Cars from China in Ukraine: which models do Ukrainian drivers choose most often?

The Ukrainian car market is undergoing a transformation — hybrid and petrol cars from China are rapidly replacing conventional electric vehicles. Whilst demand for new cars is growing, the market for second-hand Chinese cars has shrunk significantly. Find out which models from BYD, MG and Chery have become absolute hits among drivers

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Demand for Chinese-made passenger cars on the Ukrainian market remains stable, although consumer preferences are undergoing significant changes. According to the latest data from Ukravtoprom, the sales mix has begun to shift: whereas electric cars previously dominated the market, their share is now gradually declining, giving way to hybrid and conventional petrol engines.

During April, the Ukrainian car fleet was expanded by 1,252 passenger cars imported from China. Although this figure was only 0.3% lower than in the same period last year, domestic market trends are quite telling. Ukrainian drivers’ main interest is focused on new cars – new vehicles accounted for 1,076 units, showing a 4% increase. At the same time, the segment of used vehicles from China has declined significantly, falling by 21% to just 176 registered cars.

Which Chinese cars are being bought in Ukraine: popular engine types

Although electric vehicles continue to lead the way among Chinese-made passenger cars, their position has weakened significantly. In April, cars with electric powertrains accounted for 46.1% of total sales. By comparison, just a year ago this figure stood at a commanding 82%. This trend indicates growing interest among car enthusiasts in more versatile solutions that are not solely dependent on charging infrastructure.

Today, almost one in three buyers of a Chinese car (30%) prefers hybrid technology, valuing the optimal balance between economy and driving range. Traditional petrol engines also remain popular, accounting for 19.6% of the market. Diesel models are in significantly lower demand, accounting for just 4.1% of registrations, whilst cars with factory-fitted LPG systems remain a niche offering with a share of just 0.2%.

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The most popular new Chinese cars in Ukraine

When analysing specific makes and models, the undisputed favourite among Ukrainian motorists is the BYD brand, which has completely dominated the top three in the new vehicle segment. Buyers value these cars for their technological sophistication, attractive design and good value for money.

The technological BYD Sea Lion 06 confidently holds the top spot — 102 buyers chose this model in April. It is closely followed by the modern BYD Leopard 3 SUV, which sold 96 units.

Rounding off the top three is the elegant BYD Song L, purchased by 94 Ukrainians. Alongside BYD cars, the top five most sought-after new vehicles included practical crossovers from other brands: the British-Chinese MG ZS, with 52 units sold, and the time-tested CHERY Tiggo 4, which found 51 new owners.

Used cars from China: leaders in the second-hand market

In the second-hand market, which showed a downward trend in April, Ukrainians’ preferences differ somewhat, although the BYD brand still sets the tone here. An analysis of registrations shows that buyers of used vehicles from China most often seek time-tested mid-size crossovers and electric vehicles from well-known brands, produced for the domestic Chinese market.

The most popular choice among used cars was the BYD Song L (22 registered vehicles). The premium Buick Envision crossover (15 cars) and the high-tech KIA EV5 (9 cars), both assembled in China, are performing quite strongly. Rounding off the top five in the second-hand segment are BYD models — the Sea Lion 05 (8 cars) and the Song Plus (7 cars).

Overall, the April statistics confirm that Ukrainian drivers have become more discerning in their choice of Chinese cars, increasingly opting for new models with hybrid or petrol engines, which offer greater freedom of movement across the country.

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