Kazakhstan Hits New Record for New Car Sales in 2024 Amid Shifting Market Landscape

March 23, 2026

Kazakhstan’s new car market achieved a historic breakthrough in 2024, with annual sales surpassing 205,000 units to set a new all-time high for the country’s automotive sector. The overall sales volume posted steady growth year-on-year, highlighting strong resilience in the local market. Despite a slowdown in consumer purchasing activity during the middle of the year, the market staged a sharp rebound in the final months, ultimately driving annual sales to this milestone result.

According to statistics from the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAO), authorized dealers across the country sold a total of 205,100 new cars in 2024, representing a 3.2% year-on-year increase from the 198,600 units sold in 2023. Notably, 2023 sales had already marked a record high at that time, meaning Kazakhstan’s auto market has broken its annual sales record for two consecutive years. At the start of 2024, many industry experts and institutions predicted it would be difficult to match the previous year’s performance due to market saturation concerns. These worries were further amplified as monthly sales between spring and summer fell below the same period in 2023. However, the market rebounded rapidly starting in October, with monthly sales consistently exceeding 20,000 units. December alone closed the year with a record 25,500 units sold, laying a solid foundation for the full-year sales achievement.

Anar Makasheva, President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union, stated that throughout 2024, despite a temporary market slowdown in the early months, the industry was characterized by intensifying competition and a wide range of favorable offers from automakers and dealers. Unprecedented auto financing programs, including zero down payment and interest-free installment plans, were rolled out through coordinated efforts between the government, the Financial Market Regulatory and Development Agency, second-tier banks, and microfinance institutions. These initiatives significantly lowered the barrier to vehicle ownership for consumers and optimized the overall car-buying environment, leading to the consecutive record-breaking sales results for the country’s automotive market.

Market Brand Rankings Shift, Chinese Brands Post Strong Growth

The rankings of Kazakhstan’s top 10 best-selling car brands saw notable adjustments in 2024, with clear performance divergence between traditional mainstream brands and emerging Chinese automakers, driving a major shift in market share distribution.

Hyundai retained its top position with 44,200 units sold throughout the year, holding a market share of over 21%. The brand operates a local manufacturing base in Almaty, though its sales volume fell by