Experts point to several factors explaining this situation. Among them are the rise in fuel prices, the general trend toward transitioning to electric transport, and the anticipation of the restoration of VAT on customs clearance, which starts on January 1, 2026. The latter point currently has the greatest impact on the market. As business analyst Ostap Novytskyi notes, the hype will last until the end of the year: buyers want to purchase electric cars before prices jump by almost a third. At the beginning of 2026, there will likely be a short-term decline, but later the market will recover and return to growth.
The new conditions do not provide for a complete abolition of benefits. It is only about the return of VAT in the amount of 20% of the car's value. The duty will remain zero, the excise tax will remain at the preferential level of 1 euro per 1 kWh of battery, and the contribution to the Pension Fund upon first registration will not be charged. So even after the price increase, electric vehicles will remain the category of transport with the lowest tax burden upon import. In addition, their owners can significantly save on fuel.
In October, the market was distributed as follows: the largest share — 57.3% (7,596 units) — consisted of used cars imported from abroad. Domestic resales accounted for 25.2% (3,345 cars). New electric vehicles received 17.5% (2,337 cars), which was a record figure for fresh registrations.
Compared to previous periods, it is clear that domestic resales decreased by 10.5% compared to the previous month, but increased by 35.8% on an annual basis. Imports of used electric cars rose by 12.9% against September and by 136.4% year-on-year. Imports of new cars added 5.2% month-on-month and 139.7% in annual terms. Import segments are growing the fastest, but after January, the pace will likely slow down due to the introduction of VAT.
As of the end of October 2025, there are 203.8 thousand electric vehicles in Ukraine, of which 199.6 thousand are passenger cars. Also, 4.2 thousand electric trucks and nine electric buses were recorded. Among brands, Tesla leads with a share of 20.2%, Nissan — 18%, and Volkswagen — 12.4%. The average age of electric vehicles in Ukraine is 5.7 years, making this segment the youngest among all types of transport.
