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In Central Asia, with the global emphasis on clean energy and sustainable development, the development of new energy electric vehicles (NEVs) and their supporting facilities a charging piles is seeing unprecedented opportunities. In particular, the government of Uzbekistan, as a major economic and population country in Central Asia, has not only given strong support in terms of policy, but also further promoted the development of the new energy vehicle and parts market by organizing a series of international exhibitions. In this article, we will discuss three aspects of the policy favor, market demand and Uzbekistan new energy vehicles and parts exhibition. Policy favoritism: escorting the development of new energy charging piles The government of Uzbekistan deeply recognizes the importance of new energy electric vehicles and charging piles in reducing carbon emissions and promoting the transformation of energy structure, and therefore has introduced a series of preferential policies to promote the development of this industry. First of all, the government has reduced the import tariffs and subsidized the purchase of new energy electric vehicles, which directly reduces the cost of consumers and stimulates the market demand. In addition, the government has increased financial support for charging infrastructure construction and encouraged enterprises to invest in charging pile projects. These policies have not only created favorable conditions for the popularization of new energy electric vehicles, but also laid a solid foundation for the rapid development of the charging pile market. It is particularly worth mentioning that the Uzbek government has also issued a number of presidential decrees aimed at accelerating the localized production of new energy EVs and promoting the construction of EV operation infrastructure. For example, the government plans to phase out import tariffs on new energy EVs by 2030 and promote localized production and consumption by increasing subsidies and providing loan concessions. At the same time, the government has also stipulated that from January 1, 2024, new commercial centers, entertainment centers, gas stations, hotels and other venues will be required to be equipped with vehicle charging piles, or else their construction will not be approved. This series of policy measures provides a strong guarantee for the rapid development of the new energy charging pile market. Market Demand: Strong Driving Force for Continuous Growth With the improvement of environmental protection awareness and the government’s promotion of new energy policies, the market demand for new energy electric vehicles and charging piles in Uzbekistan has shown a rapid growth trend. According to data, the import of electric vehicles has increased significantly in Uzbekistan in recent years, especially Chinese electric vehicle brands such as BYD, Geely and Great Wall, which have made remarkable achievements in the Uzbek market. BYD’s electric car Song Plus is a breakout success in Uzbekistan, with sales of more than 2,000 units. Meanwhile, the charging pile market has also seen explosive growth. As of 2022, about 100 EV charging stations are already in operation in Uzbekistan, and the government plans to increase the number of charging stations to 2,500 by 2025, starting from December 1, 2023, when large-scale construction of charging stations will begin. This ambitious plan not only reflects the importance the government attaches to the new energy charging station market, but also signals the market’s huge potential for future development. Exhibition: An Important Platform for International Cooperation and Exchanges In order to further promote the development of the new energy electric vehicle and parts market, Uzbekistan regularly organizes international exhibitions, which provide domestic and foreign companies with excellent opportunities to showcase their latest technologies and products. For example, AUTO PARTS EXPO 2025 will be held from April 23 to 25, 2025 at the National Exhibition Center in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The exhibition not only gathers automobile manufacturers, dealers and buyers from the five Central Asian countries and China, but also attracts a large number of industry players from Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Georgia and other countries. The following is the scope of its exhibits. New Energy Vehicles Pure electric vehicles, programmable electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, solar vehicles and other new energy vehicles, etc.; new energy commercial vehicles, new energy passenger cars; new energy special vehicles and special vehicles, etc.; electric vehicles, connected automatic vehicles, LEV light electric vehicles (<350kg), electric motorcycles, electric scooters, electric golf vehicles, electric commercial vehicles, connected & Automatic Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Connected Automatic LKWs, Electric Buses, Connected & Automatic Buses, Electric Forklifts + Electric Vehicle Transportation & Storage, Electric Vehicle Recovery, Electric Ambulances, Other Vehicles Charging Stations Charging station smart network project planning and achievement demonstration, fueling and charging integrated service station demonstration, solar and wind energy complementary new energy vehicle charging station technology products, charging station power distribution equipment, chargers, power monitoring system, charging piles, transformers, distribution cabinets, cables, direct charging equipment, management auxiliary equipment, rechargeable and exchangeable batteries and battery management system, parking lot charging facilities, charging station power supply solutions, Charging station-smart grid solutions, etc. Battery motor electric control Power battery, raw materials, shell, power battery PACK production equipment, non-standard automation, test instruments and battery management system, etc.; new energy vehicle motors, magnetic materials, iron core, stator and rotor, insulating materials, winding equipment, silicon carbide, shells, automated assembly lines, etc.; new energy vehicle electronic control, IGBT, chips and special devices, supercapacitors, vehicle MCU, electronic control modules, vehicle sensors, system integration, etc. sensors, system integration, etc. Energy and Infrastructure Electric energy suppliers, hydrogen energy suppliers, energy infrastructure, energy networks, energy management, smart grids V2G, electrical cables + connectors + plugs, charging/power stations, solar energy, solar garages, hydrogen, fast charging stations, charging system inductors, energy and charging systems, AFI(D) Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (Directive) EU, conductive charging infrastructure, wireless charging infrastructure (static and dynamic), hydrogen fuel infrastructure, smart charging, V2G, V2X and vehicle/infrastructure communications charging/refueling standardization and regulation, ICT data definition Processing and Manufacturing Technology and Equipment for New Energy Vehicle Triboelectric Products New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Process Equipment, New Energy Body Connection Technology and Equipment, New Energy Vehicle Parts Processing Equipment, New Energy Vehicle Intelligent Factory, New Energy

High prices have long been one of the main reasons for the low demand for electric and hybrid vehicles. However, statistics show that Ukrainians are increasingly choosing these vehicles despite the war. When choosing a new electric car, buyers prefer models made in China. The fact is that over the past few years, many versions with a range of up to 500 kilometers have appeared in the Middle East, and their prices have fallen due to increased competition in the market. Among used electric cars, Ukrainians prefer the Tesla from the USA (which is often shipped to Ukraine after traffic accidents) and the Nissan Leaf from the EU countries. According to the Automobile Market Research Institute, the purchase of new and used electric cars in November 2023 set a new record – 6,200 units, an increase of 190% over last year. According to the Ukrainian Automobile Industry Association, sales of hybrid vehicles in October 2023 exceeded pre-war figures for the first time. Almost 1,800 of these vehicles were registered during the reporting period, a record number for the past 22 months. Boom in electric vehicles According to statistics, the electric vehicle market in Ukraine is growing at a frantic pace. Not long ago, only 8,541 vehicles had been registered in the country by the end of 2021. As of January 1, 2023, according to the data of the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, their number had reached 46,830. In less than a year, the number had almost doubled to 83,116 units by the end of November 2023. Data from the Institute of the Automotive Market shows that the proportion of electric vehicles among all passenger cars registered in Ukraine in the same period rose from 8.4% to 16.6% over the past year. Zero tariffs and VAT exemptions have helped to increase demand for electric vehicles. For example, only excise duty is payable on import (1 euro per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity) – up to a maximum of 100 euros per vehicle. Another reason is the emergence of models with a range of 300–500 kilometers, which are not much more expensive than vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE). Rising fuel prices have spurred demand. Among the new electric cars, the VW ID.4 is leading the way in terms of sales in 2023. This model with a range of up to 600 kilometers has been on the market for three years. In the used electric car segment, Ukrainians prefer the Nissan Leaf – a car with a relatively small range (200 kilometers) but at an affordable price. Depending on the year of manufacture and condition, prices range from 10,000 to 20,000 US dollars. Price stimulates demand Thanks to the low cost of battery production, China has managed to make electric cars as affordable as possible. The Volkswagen ID.4 is produced in almost identical versions in three countries: the USA – for the American market, Germany – for Europe, and China – for the rest of the world. The Chinese version is popular in Ukraine, where it is delivered by unofficial dealers. The delivery and customs clearance costs start at 25,000 US dollars, while the cost in Europe would be over 42,600 euros. In the USA, it starts at 42,000 US dollars. Against the backdrop of growing interest in electric vehicles, the size of loans is also increasing. The Ukrainian National Savings Bank noted that customers who chose to finance an electric vehicle had the greatest demand for the Volkswagen ID.4, while the greatest demand for a hybrid vehicle was for the Toyota RAV4. “Against the backdrop of a deficit and rising fuel prices, the recovery of car loans was followed by the first significant increase in demand for electric car loans in 2022. Even the possibility of power outages did not stop this trend.” ‘For the second year in a row, we have observed a dynamic increase in the share of electric and hybrid cars in new car sales, which is reflected in credit sales,’ said Anton Timoshenko, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ukraine’s National Savings Bank. Delivery of used Teslas Despite the popularity of new Chinese electric vehicles, the Ukrainian market is driven by used electric vehicles. Tesla is clearly leading the way here. In 2021, Ukraine imported 454 such vehicles, 1,100 in 2022 and 4,669 in 2023. The most popular models are the more economical Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y, of which more than 700 were delivered in November 2023 alone. Most Ukrainians buy cars that have been repaired after road accidents. The car sales website auto.ria has almost 3,200 Tesla offers. Of these, only 600 have not been in a traffic accident, as the sellers claim. The popular Tesla Model 3 costs between 25,000 and 40,000 US dollars, depending on the equipment. In the USA, they are usually bought at insurance auctions for 10,000 to 15,000 dollars cheaper. In October, Ukrainians bought 433 used Tesla Model 3s, 226 Tesla Model Ys and 192 Tesla Model Ss in the USA. Most of these road-safe Teslas entered Ukraine from the EU. Market growth cannot be stopped In October 2023, China announced that electric vehicle sales had reached a record high. Despite the end of the 11-year subsidy program in 2022, monthly sales increased by 29%. From January to September, the global electric vehicle market grew by 34%. In Ukraine, despite the war, the popularity of electric vehicles is still growing, while China is actively occupying the domestic market. Ukrainians are not deterred by the lack of warranties and services, nor by the limited number of fast charging stations. Car sales in Ukraine in the first four months of 2024 In the first four months of 2024, Ukrainians imported 118,100 used and new passenger cars, as reported by Ukravtoprom. Ukraine imported the highest number of passenger cars from Germany, totaling over 23,600 units. The United States and China also made it into the top three exporters of cars to Ukraine. Top 10