BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Kazakhstan plans to
expand cooperation with China’s BYD Auto through the development of
local production of electric and hybrid vehicles, the Kazakh
government says.
This was announced by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during a
government meeting.
The issue was discussed following a report by Chairman of Astana
Motors Group Nurlan Smagulov, who presented the progress of
cooperation with BYD and plans for expanding vehicle production in
Kazakhstan.
According to Smagulov, the companies are preparing to launch
local assembly of BYD urban buses in Kazakhstan in 2026. The
project will later include production of passenger vehicles based
on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV)
technologies, with assembly planned to begin in 2027.
Bektenov instructed relevant government agencies and industrial
partners to continue work on the project and ensure coordination
between all participants. "We are interested in opening a BYD
electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan. The necessary
government support will be provided, and I ask you to expedite the
implementation of this project," Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.
The development of BYD production facilities is part of
Kazakhstan’s efforts to expand its automotive manufacturing sector
and increase the share of locally assembled vehicles.
According to commercial data, BYD sold more than 2,000 vehicles
in Kazakhstan in the first half of 2026, including 795 fully
electric models. Astana Motors expects sales through its
distribution network to reach 6,500 vehicles by the end of 2026 and
increase to 12,000 units in 2027.
