In February 2025, Ukrainians registered only 1,074 electric vehicles — the worst figure of the year. The market, which just in October 2024 was setting records with 10,500 registrations per month, collapsed by nearly tenfold. The reason — the cancellation of zero VAT and import duties at the beginning of the year.
What happened to the numbers
According to Ukravtoprom, in March the market recorded 2,021 registrations (+88% from February), in April — 3,007 (+49% from March). The recovery looks convincing, but only on a monthly basis: in year-on-year comparison, April 2025 is still 48% below April 2024.
The structure of demand is telling: of 3,007 April registrations, 2,301 are used cars, and only 536 are new. That is, the market is recovering mainly due to the secondhand sector, not new imported vehicles.
Why the first months collapsed
Until the end of 2024, there was a benefit that exempted imported electric vehicles from VAT (20%) and import duties (10%). The only real tax remaining was excise — about 100 euros per vehicle. After the cancellation of benefits, the cost of customs clearance increased many times over.
«Under the new rules, an inexpensive electric car worth $20,000 will cost the buyer approximately $7,000–10,000 more. Demand will inevitably shift to the domestic market of already customs-cleared vehicles».
Global Electric representative, comment for Finance.ua
Parliament managed to react — but not finally
In October 2025, the Verkhovna Rada supported in the first reading an amendment by People's Deputy Dmytro Razumok to the 2026 state budget bill, which extends zero benefits for electric vehicle imports until January 1, 2027. The amendment was voted for by 248 deputies, including some members of the Servant of the People faction — despite previous statements by its leaders against the extension. The law still has to pass the second reading.
If the benefits are indeed preserved, the market will likely receive a new boost. But April's «recovery» occurred before this decision — and is explained more by the exhaustion of the shock from the price jump rather than structural changes.
Who is buying and what
- New electric vehicles — 536 units (18% of the market)
- Used cars — 2,301 units (77%)
- Commercial vehicles — 170 units, only 9 of them new
Among new vehicles, Chinese brands traditionally dominate. Among used ones — Tesla Model Y and Model 3, which had settled on the Ukrainian market even before the price jump.
What's next
If Parliament approves the extension of benefits in the second reading, importers will get a stable window until the beginning of 2027 — and demand will likely gradually catch up to last year's figures. If not — the market will remain in «buy used while there's still something to buy» mode. The key question: will Parliament have enough votes in the second reading if the Ministry of Finance publicly insists on replenishing the budget by canceling these benefits?
