Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Oschadbank’s new program offers loans for used cars at 0.01%

Oschadbank has launched the Select Finance program—a financing program for used cars sold through official dealers in Ukraine.

The program offers more favorable financing terms compared to traditional used car loans and applies to vehicles with low mileage that have a verified service history and are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

A vehicle purchased under the program must meet the following requirements:

  • age – up to 3 years from the date of first purchase;
  • mileage – up to 50,000 km;
  • valid manufacturer’s warranty;
  • no more than one previous owner.

Oschadbank offers flexible financing terms:

  • interest rate – from 0.01% to 11% per annum (depending on the term and down payment);
  • down payment – from 30% of the car’s value;
  • loan term – up to 5 years;
  • one-time fee – from 0 to 3% of the loan amount;
  • repayment plan – classic or annuity;
  • option to include the cost of comprehensive insurance for the first year in the loan amount.

“We have focused on the segment of used cars sold through official dealers and covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. This gives customers the opportunity to get a reliable car at a more affordable price than a new one. Today, the used car loan segment accounts for only about 6% of the market for secured passenger car loans. However, it has become the true growth leader: over the past year, the number of such loans has nearly doubled. Therefore, we see significant prospects for further scaling our presence in this segment,” noted Dmytro Bashtovyi, Director of the Partner Relations Department at Oschadbank.

, , ,

Passenger car imports to Ukraine fell by 18% in January–February

The volume of passenger car imports to Ukraine, including cargo-passenger vans and racing cars (HS code 8703), amounted to $589.9 million in January-February 2026, which is 18% less than the figure for the same period in 2025 (nearly $720 million).

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, passenger car imports in February fell by 18.1% compared to February 2025—to $315.9 million—but were 15.3% higher than in January 2026.

The top three suppliers of passenger cars to Ukraine in January-February were Japan, the United States, and Germany, while in the previous year these were the same countries, but Germany was the largest exporter, followed by the United States and Japan.

Specifically, during this period, car imports from Japan increased by 45.4% to $114.9 million, and their share in the structure of car imports rose to 19.5% from 11%.

Car imports from the United States to Ukraine totaled $104.4 million (down 14.5%), and from Germany, $91.5 million (down 40%).

Imports of passenger cars from other countries in January–February totaled $279.1 million, compared to $366.6 million in January of last year.

At the same time, in the first two months of the year, Ukraine exported such vehicles worth only $0.6 million, whereas last year, a total of $1.9 million worth were exported to the UAE (90.5%), the Czech Republic, and Moldova.

According to the State Customs Service, passenger cars accounted for nearly 4% of Ukraine’s total goods imports in January-February of this year, compared to 6.37% during the same period last year.

As reported, in 2025, passenger cars worth nearly $6.15 billion were imported into Ukraine, which is 40.2% more than in 2024. The top three exporters were the United States, Germany, and China. Cars worth $10.1 million were exported (2.7 times less).

The significant increase in passenger car imports to Ukraine in the final months of 2025 was driven by news that VAT exemptions on electric vehicle imports would be abolished as of January 1, 2026, whereas imports have declined significantly since the start of this year.

,

Passenger car imports to Ukraine fell by 18% in January

The volume of passenger car imports to Ukraine, including cargo-passenger vans and racing cars (UKT ZED code 8703), amounted to almost $274 million in January 2026, which is 18% less than in January 2025 (almost $334 million).

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, passenger car imports fell 2.4 times compared to December 2025.

The top three suppliers of passenger cars to Ukraine in January were Japan, the US, and Germany, while in the previous year, these were the same countries, but the largest exporter was Germany, followed by the US and Japan. In particular, in January 2026, car deliveries from Japan increased by 38% to $57.6 million, and their share in the structure of car imports grew to 21% from 12.5%.

Cars worth $54.5 million (12.8% less) were imported from the US to Ukraine, and $45 million (39.6% less) from Germany.

Imports of passenger cars from other countries in January amounted to $116.8 million, compared to $155.1 million in January last year.

At the same time, Ukraine exported almost no such vehicles last month, while in January 2025, deliveries totaling $1.09 million were made to the UAE (90.5%), Germany, and Moldova.

According to the State Customs Service, passenger cars accounted for 4.1% of the total structure of imports to Ukraine in January this year, compared to 6.02% in January 2025.

As reported, in 2025, passenger cars worth almost $6.15 billion were imported into Ukraine, which is 40.2% more than in 2024. The top three exporters were the United States, Germany, and China. Cars worth $10.1 million were exported (2.7 times less).

The significant increase in passenger car imports to Ukraine in the last months of 2025 was due to information about the cancellation of VAT exemptions on the import of electric cars from January 1, 2026.

,

Car exports from China in 2025 increased by almost 20% to 5.79 mln units

Retail sales of passenger cars in China in 2025 increased by 3.9% – the slowest pace in three years, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). In 2024, sales growth was 5.3%.

Sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids rose 17.6% last year after jumping 40.7% a year earlier. At the same time, annual sales of such vehicles in the country exceeded sales of traditional vehicles for the first time.

Car exports from China rose 19.4% last year to 5.79 million units. Exports of electric vehicles jumped 48.8% to 1.52 million units, the CPCA reported.

Domestic demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China declined after subsidies for buyers were reduced or discontinued in many cities and provinces across the country.

According to the CPCA forecast, car sales in China will remain at 2025 levels in 2026, and the growth rate of electric vehicle exports will slow down.

, ,

Imports of used cars to Ukraine increased by 22% in 2025, reaching 278,600 vehicles

Initial registrations of used passenger cars imported from abroad in 2025 increased by 22% compared to 2024, reaching 278,630 units, according to the Automotive Market Research Institute.

The annual import rating is headed by the unchanged leader — Volkswagen (37,200 cars), which, according to experts, offers everything from budget options to premium crossovers, as well as buses and vans.

“Audi (25,900) ranks second, which indicates Ukrainians’ high demand for comfort and status,” the Institute’s website says.

At the same time, it is noted that the main event of the year was Tesla’s entry into the top three with 24,140 cars registered.

“The purely electric brand surpassed many traditional competitors, becoming a symbol of the ‘green’ craze of 2025,” the report states.

The top five are rounded out by Nissan (21,600) and Renault (almost 17,000), which maintain their positions thanks to a combination of popular electric cars and practical diesel cars from Europe.

Next in the top ten brands are BMW, Hyundai, Ford, KIA, and Skoda.

Experts note that Volkswagen Golf retained its leadership in the model ranking (10,670), but its lead over its competitors is minimal (and not without the help of e-Golf).

The main competitor is the Tesla Model Y (10,550), and third place goes to the Tesla Model (9,200). Fourth in the ranking is the Skoda Octavia (7,700), and fifth is the Nissan Leaf (7,500).

“As for premium models, last year the Ukrainian car fleet was replenished with Porsche (1,265 units), Maserati (97), Lamborghini (21), Rolls-Royce (17), and the same number of Bentley, Ferrari (8), Aston Martin (6), and one McLaren,” the report says.

Experts report that in December last year, 41,700 used imported foreign cars were submitted for first registration, which is almost 2.7 times more than in December 2024 and 75.3% more than in November 2025.

The report notes that since the beginning of 2025, import volumes have gradually increased: from 14,500 cars in January to almost 42,000 in December.

“The last time such volumes of ”freshly imported“ cars were seen was in 2022, during the temporary ”zero customs clearance” period. Now, this activity has been caused by the ‘race for electric cars’, as VAT on their import was introduced on January 1,” experts note, stating that this is why Tesla is among the top three leaders.

“Overall, we have seen a 22% increase in imports over the year, but it should be understood that a significant portion of these cars were purchased ‘in advance’. We have actually taken a portion of sales in 2026, so now the warehouses are full, and there will be no such rush in the coming months,” Stanislav Buchatsky, head of the Automotive Market Research Institute, is quoted as saying in the report.

, ,

New car sales in Ukraine increased by 17% in 2025

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.

,