Ukrainians are buying fewer Chinese cars: which models were popular in May
15 June 11:54
In May, Ukrainians purchased 900 passenger cars imported from China. This is 43% less than during the same period last year. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing “Ukravtoprom.”
According to Ukravtoprom, the drop in demand affected both new and used cars of Chinese origin.
At the same time, the structure of the segment itself has changed: while electric vehicles previously dominated the market, the share of hybrid and gasoline-powered models has now grown significantly.
How many Chinese cars did Ukrainians buy in May
In May, 900 passenger cars imported from China were added to the Ukrainian vehicle fleet. Compared to May 2025, this is 43% less.
Of this number:
- 754 cars were new—44% fewer than last year;
- 146 cars were used—40% fewer than in May 2025.
These figures indicate a noticeable cooling of demand for cars from China in Ukraine.
Electric vehicles no longer dominate as they once did
Most of the Chinese-made cars purchased by Ukrainians in May were electric. They accounted for 52% of the total.
However, compared to last year, the position of electric vehicles has weakened significantly. In May 2025, they accounted for 85% of the Chinese segment.
The breakdown of car sales from China in May was as follows:
- electric vehicles — 52%;
- hybrids — 28%;
- gasoline cars — 18%;
- diesel cars — 2%.
Thus, Ukrainian buyers began to take a closer look not only at electric cars but also at Chinese-made hybrid and gasoline models.
The most popular new Chinese cars in May
The BYD Sea Lion 06 was the top-selling new Chinese-made passenger car in May. Ukrainians purchased 89 of these vehicles.
The top five most popular new cars from China included:
- BYD Sea Lion 06 — 89 cars;
- BYD Song L — 75 cars;
- BYD Leopard 3 — 57 cars;
- ZEEKR 7X — 39 cars;
- CHERY Tiggo 4 — 27 cars.
This ranking shows that there remains high interest among buyers in BYD models, which took three spots in the top 5.
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Which used car from China was purchased most often
Among used passenger cars of Chinese origin, the ZEEKR 7X was the most popular in May. Ukrainians purchased 18 of these vehicles.
This model also made it into the top 5 among new cars from China, indicating significant interest in the ZEEKR brand in both the primary and secondary markets.
What does this mean for the auto market
For the Ukrainian car market, the May data reveals two trends. First, interest in cars from China has noticeably declined. Second, buyers have become more pragmatic in their choice of powertrain.
Hybrids may seem more attractive to those who want to save on fuel but aren’t ready to rely entirely on charging infrastructure. Gasoline models also remain in demand among drivers looking for a more familiar driving experience.
Chinese brands remain prominent in the market
Despite the drop in sales, Chinese cars remain an important part of the Ukrainian auto market. BYD, ZEEKR, and CHERY models remain at the top of the sales charts, and buyers continue to show interest in both new and used cars from China.
At the same time, the market no longer looks as homogeneous as it did last year. The share of electric vehicles is shrinking, and competition between electric, hybrid, and gasoline models is intensifying.
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