In 2025, Ukrainians purchased 83,443 thousand new passenger cars, which is 17% more than in the previous year. In particular, in December, sales increased 2.2 times to 12,724 thousand, according to AUTO-Consulting
“Thus, 2025 went down in history as the year of the Ukrainian car market’s recovery,” the group’s website states.
Toyota maintained its leadership in 2025, selling 10,700 cars (3.15% less than in 2024), although in the last months of the year it was forced to let Chinese BYD take the lead.
Experts note that BYD became the phenomenon of 2025, rising from 11th place in the ranking to second and occupying 26% of the market by the end of the year with sales of almost 10,600 cars (4.6 times more).
“We have never seen such a rapid breakthrough before. It should be added that BYD’s sales were carried out by so-called “gray” dealers, without an organized network of car dealerships, without service, without a coordinated policy. However, BYD became the second automaker to sell more than 10,000 cars in Ukraine in a year,” analysts said.
They noted that Volkswagen has been in third place in Ukraine for a year in a row, but this result was also made possible by the supply of “gray” electric cars from the Chinese market.
Renault lost two positions over the year and is now only fourth with sales of 6,330 cars (-11.4%), while Skoda, which took fifth place, is not far behind with sales of 6,180 cars (+21.2%).
According to AUTO-Consulting, BMW remains the No. 1 brand among premium cars, although in 2025 it had to actively defend this status from the Chinese as well – sales of the brand, which took sixth place in the overall ranking, fell by 21.4% to 3,800.
“Unexpectedly, Ukrainian consumers began to trust the newly created Chinese premium manufacturers and actively switch to them. That is why we already see Zeekr as number 8 on the market, although a year ago it only made it into the top 20. But Zeekr even had enough strength to overtake Audi,” the report states.
Experts also noted the successful policy of Hyundai, which increased sales by 37% to 3,640 units.
They also noted that Honda is in the top 10 for the second year in a row, which, thanks to “gray” dealers of Chinese electric cars, was able to overtake its colleagues in the Japanese auto industry – Suzuki, Mazda, and Nissan.
AUTO-Consulting emphasizes that the result of passenger car sales in December is due to the end of VAT exemptions on electric cars, whose share exceeded 50% (50.8%) for the first time last month.
“In December alone, Ukrainians purchased more than 6,500 electric cars, which is more than all car sales in the months at the beginning of 2025,” the report says.
In December, BYD took first place and sold 3,300 electric cars, compared to 192 in December 2024.
In addition, thanks to “gray” dealers, Volkswagen took second place in December (1,332 cars) and 10% of the Ukrainian market, surpassing Toyota (1,159 units). Skoda took fourth place with sales of 933 units (+56.3%), and Zeekr took fifth place (898 cars), surpassing all competitors in the premium segment.
“In fact, not all automakers were able to withstand the ‘Chinese electric invasion’ in December in the top 10. Among them were Renault, Hyundai, BMW, and Audi, although their sales were boosted by “gray” deliveries from the Chinese market,” experts noted.
The Ukravtoprom association also notes a 17% growth in the passenger car market in 2025, to 81,300 units. In particular, according to its data, 12,400 cars were sold in December, which is 2.2 times more than in December 2024 and 50% more than in November 2025. According to the association, the top three were BYD with 3,164 units, Volkswagen with 1,298 units, and Toyota with 1,117 units.
Next in the ranking are Skoda with 969 units, Zeekr with 844 units, Renault with 658 units, Honda with 441 units, Hyundai with 375 units, BMW with 324 units, and Audi with 316 units.
The bestseller of the month was the Volkswagen ID.UNYX.
As reported, according to Ukravtoprom, in 2024, initial registrations of new passenger cars in Ukraine increased by 14% compared to 2023, to 69,600 units, while according to AUTO-Consulting, sales increased by 9.8%, to 71,300 units.
