In Ukraine, the demand for new cars has skyrocketed — and if anyone thinks it’s due to economic optimism, it’s not. It’s because of the hunt for electric vehicles before the cancellation of preferential customs clearance. The market currently resembles “Black Friday,” only in car dealerships.
In November, Ukrainians bought 8.3 thousand new passenger cars — the highest figure in the last 14 months, as reported by “Ukrautoprom.” Compared to October, sales grew by another 6%, and relative to November 2024 — immediately by 58%. The main driver of this boom is Chinese electric cars, which have literally knocked the door down in the sales rankings.
The main hero of the month is BYD. The brand, which just a few years ago sounded like “someone from China who makes something electric,” has now become the most popular brand in Ukraine. Further in the ranking are the proven Toyota and Volkswagen, but even they now look modest against the backdrop of Chinese frenzy.
The November top turned out like this: BYD — 1,615 cars sold, Toyota — 859, Volkswagen — 798, Renault — 577, Skoda — 561. Zeekr, Hyundai, Honda, BMW, and Audi round out the top ten — but it’s noticeable that half of the brands on the list are either fully electric or actively moving in that direction.
At the same time, the most popular car again was the Renault Duster — the same universal crossover that people buy regardless of trends, exchange rates, and memes about Chinese batteries. Ukrainian drivers traditionally love practicality, and the Duster once again confirms its title as the people’s favorite.
From the beginning of the year until the end of November, Ukrainians have already purchased 68.9 thousand new passenger cars — that’s 7.5% more than last year. And among the most popular models for the entire 2025 year are the Renault Duster, Toyota RAV4, and BYD Song. The Chinese electric car company looks quite organic here — their advance on the market has long ceased to be a trend and has become the new norm.