Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Davron Vakhabov supported the adoption of electric vehicle import duties to Uzbekistan at a round table with business leaders on Thursday.

He touched upon the duty rates in other countries for EVs imports. According to him, the United States imposed duties of 102.5% on imported Chinese electric vehicles due to the lack of an official dealer and non-compliance with standards. In European countries, this rate is 38.1%, in Turkey - 58%, in Brazil - 10% with an increase to 35% in 2026.

After Turkey introduced duties, BYD announced the construction of a $ 1 billion plant in Turkey, he noted. Vakhabov believes that the automotive industry will ensure the formation of qualified personnel for the country.

"This is not about jobs or a monopoly. If the future generation works there, qualified specialists will come from there. Over the years, over 100,000 people have worked at the Asaka plant. Of those I know, 15 people work in Germany and receive a salary of 3,000 to 5,000 euros,” he said.

Vakhabov addressed journalists and asked them to “look more broadly” at the issue of supporting local manufacturers and understand not only the sale of cars.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that maintaining zero duties leads to the mass import of Chinese electric vehicles “with no quality service and any warranties.” According to estimates by the Alixpartners consulting company, by 2030, 19 out of 137 Chinese EV makers will remain.

Vakhabov also focused on the issue of battery recycling; there are no projects in this area in Uzbekistan yet. It is proposed to raise duties on electric vehicles to the level of hybrid cars in order to create funds for battery recycling projects and the attraction of new technologies.

The ADM Jizzakh car plant, a manufacturer of KIA and Chery models, vowed to produce hybrid cars and EVs in Uzbekistan by mid-2027. The volume of investments is expected to reach $550 million, and budget revenues to $700 million, which should allow the company to enter the top 5 largest taxpayers in the country. Its head previously proposed to return duties on the import of electric cars to Uzbekistan. He also asked to return the procedure for selling cars through official dealers.