From old PAZ buses to European liners: how the bus market changed in 2025
29 January 19:30
In 2025, the Ukrainian bus market showed mixed dynamics: domestic resales fell sharply, while the import and new vehicle segments grew. This was reported by the Automotive Market Research Institute, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Key figures for the year
At the end of 2025, 3,978 deals were made on the domestic market, which is 36.1% less than in 2024. This is because old buses, which had changed owners many times within the country, were worn out.
At the same time, the segment of imported used buses grew: 1, 088 units were registered, which is 31.7% more than last year. These are mainly vehicles from European countries, which carriers consider as an alternative to outdated models.
The new bus segment also showed positive dynamics: 1,176 vehicles, an increase of 15%. This is attributed to the continuation of municipal and school procurement programs.
December dynamics
In December, the market traditionally slowed down. Compared to November, bus production and assembly in Ukraine decreased by 30.4%.
At the same time, in annual terms (until December 2024), domestic resales increased by 78.6%, which experts attribute to the resumption of the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs registries after technical failures at the end of the previous year.
In December,
- 325 agreements were concluded on the domestic market,
- 114 first registrations of used imported buses,
- 112 registrations of new vehicles, 87 of which were manufactured in Ukraine.
What was bought most often
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter remains the leader in terms of the number of deals on the domestic market. Ukrainian models BAZ A079 Etalon and Bogdan/Ataman A-092 are also popular.
At the same time, Soviet and early post-Soviet models are still present in the ratings, in particular PAZ-3205 and GAZ Gazel, which, according to experts, indicates the unevenness of the renewal of vehicle fleets in the regions.
Among imported used buses, carriers prefer more spacious and comfortable models: VDL Ambassador, Setra S 400, Van Hool Astromega, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Citaro city bus.
New buses: betting on Ukrainian manufacturers
The market for new vehicles is mainly formed by Ukrainian manufacturers. The most frequently registered models were Bogdan/Ataman, ZAZ A08 I-VAN, BAZ A081 Etalon, as well as some small-class models, in particular JAC Sunray and Toyota Hiace.
This is attributed to the requirements of tender procedures and the local authorities’ focus on supporting national manufacturers.
Stanislav Buchatsky, head of the Automotive Market Research Institute, believes that the market has effectively split into two parts: the domestic segment is shrinking due to vehicle wear and tear, while imports and new purchases show signs of professionalization among carriers.
According to him, the presence of old models such as PAZ and Gazelle in the top rankings indicates a shortage of quality alternatives in some regions, but the overall trend towards modernization of vehicle fleets is already irreversible.
Nostalgia on wheels
The study draws particular attention to the fact that buses manufactured in the 1970s, in particular the ZIL-118, LAZ-695, and PAZ-672M models, still appear in the registers. This is explained by the long life cycle of the equipment and its use in local transport, where comfort requirements remain lower.
