November 2025 was a landmark for the Ukrainian car market. For the first time in the entire period of observation, monthly sales of new electric cars exceeded the psychological mark of 3 thousand units.
The dynamics are impressive: compared to October, the market has grown by almost a third, and compared to last year, we have a jump of 252%. The reason for such activity is obvious: the approach of January 1 and the VAT refund acts as a powerful incentive for buyers to have time to buy a car at the old price.
Geography
If you look at the VIN codes of these three thousand cars, it becomes clear: the market for new electric cars in Ukraine has actually become a branch of the Chinese auto industry. 96% of all registered cars are of Chinese origin. Even those that bear the logos of European or Japanese brands (Volkswagen, Honda) actually came off the assembly lines in the PRC.
Brands: BYD dominance
The market leader by a huge margin is BYD. This brand now occupies almost half of the entire market for new electric cars. In second place is Volkswagen, but it holds on to it solely thanks to the Chinese ID line. The top three is rounded out by the premium Zeekr, which confidently bypasses the traditional Japanese Honda.
It is also worth noting the appearance of new technological players in the top: Xiaomi and Denza. But the classic European premium (Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW) in this segment is inferior to more technological competitors from the East.
The model range has undergone significant changes. Long-standing favorites have faded into the background, giving way to new products.
- BYD Leopard 3 is the new market leader. This compact crossover immediately took first place.
- Volkswagen ID. Unyx — the second place is occupied by a stylish cross-coupe, which Ukrainians appreciated for its design.
- BYD Song Plus — a crossover that was No. 1 for a long time, has moved up a bit, but remains in the top three.
Next on the list is a parade of technologies: Zeekr 7X, BYD Sea Lion 06 and 07. Japanese Honda is represented by the e:N series models, which are also produced in China. Interestingly, the top is almost devoid of previous bestsellers like the usual ID.4 — the market requires fresh forms.
Expert opinion
Stanislav Buchatsky, Institute for Car Market Research, comments:
"The market for new electric cars is showing incredible dynamics: +250% year-on-year growth . Overcoming the 3,000 car mark per month is a clear signal that electric cars have become a mass phenomenon. While classic official dealers ignored this segment, independent traders seized the initiative. It was they who saturated the market with Chinese cars, actually doing the work of official importers. However, 2026 may bring changes. An external factor is imposed on our internal VAT refund — China is beginning to limit the export of its technologies. So the current records may remain peak for a long time, and the market structure next year is likely to transform."
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