Key facts
- Demand for electric vehicles in Russia has nearly doubled following Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.
- Russian automotive expert Sergey Tselikov bought a Chinese electric hatchback due to gasoline availability issues.
- Sales of EVs and hybrids in Russia rose to over 83,000 from January-August this year, up from 43,000 in the same period last year.
- The market share of EVs and plug-in hybrids in Russia reached 11.5% by late September, up from 5% at the start of the year.
- Most electric vehicles sold in Russia are Chinese-made.
Demand for electric vehicles in Russia has nearly doubled as Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have led to widespread gasoline shortages. The shift is significantly boosting sales of Chinese-made electric cars.
According to The New York Times, Russian automotive expert Sergey Tselikov, who owns over 20 cars, purchased a Chinese electric hatchback after experiencing difficulty finding gasoline at multiple stations. He noted that some stations only had diesel or lower-quality gasoline.
Data indicates that sales of electric vehicles and hybrids in Russia increased from 43,000 units between January and August of the previous year to over 83,000 units in the same period this year. The price of a Great Wall Motor vehicle reportedly rose by approximately $2,000 within a few days due to the surge in demand.
By the end of September, fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars represented 11.5% of the Russian automotive market, a substantial increase from about 5% at the beginning of the year. This trend underscores how geopolitical events and supply disruptions are rapidly altering consumer behavior in Russia's car market.