Chinese EV demand in Kazakhstan shows a growing economic footprint as US turns to Central Asia
An Astana dealer plans to switch from European car imports to Chinese electric vehicles. A separate US trip highlights commercial interest in the wider region.
Chinese electric vehicles are drawing more customers in Kazakhstan, according to a South China Morning Post report from Astana published on October 18. A local car dealer plans to switch from importing European cars to Chinese EVs, one example of China's growing economic presence in the country as the United States pursues business ties across Central Asia.
Auyez Kabdygali, the Astana dealer, told the South China Morning Post that demand for Chinese EVs was rising among local and Russian customers. He attributed their appeal to price and quality. His grandfather has ordered a BYD Han and plans to collect it at a terminal on the China border before driving it home, the newspaper reported.
Chinese investment visible in Astana
The South China Morning Post also described a newly opened, Chinese-built light rail line running along Astana's central axis. The infrastructure project and Kabdygali's business plans show different ways Chinese commerce is reaching Kazakhstan: through transport construction and consumer purchases.
The newspaper described Kabdygali as one of a growing number of Kazakhs who view China positively, linking that sentiment to economic benefits and China's presentation of itself as a cooperative partner that does not interfere in domestic affairs. His account illustrates that view, but does not establish how widely it is held or what share of Kazakhstan's car market Chinese EVs occupy.
US business delegation heads to Uzbekistan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to arrive in Samarkand on Sunday for talks with the C5+1, which brings together the United States and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Reuters reported. The State Department said more than 200 business executives would accompany him to Uzbekistan.
A Central Asian diplomat told Reuters that the Trump administration's commercial efforts had focused on access to the region's rare earth resources. Reuters also reported that US officials have called for greater attention to Central Asia, which lies between China, Russia and Iran. Rubio's planned meetings put US commercial priorities in the same wider region as the Chinese activity described in Astana; they do not establish an outcome from the talks.
The trip comes with other issues in US relations with the five countries. Western officials say the region has facilitated trade with Russia that violates US and European Union sanctions, Reuters reported. A Central Asian diplomat said officials were wondering whether Washington would continue targeting sanctions evasion. Rubio was then scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar in India for meetings with business leaders.
Read in depth: World
Jaishankar to host Rubio and UAE foreign minister in back-to-back Mumbai visits
The meetings will cover bilateral ties, West Asia conflicts and trade, with the US visit coming just after the Russian oil tariff deadline.
Canterbury Hospital missed 16 surgery referrals in unmonitored inbox
Three thousand unread emails included four urgent and 12 semi-urgent referrals left waiting beyond clinical timeframes, with some dating back to late 2025.
Sources and context
- In Focus | Beyond EVs and perception, how China is gaining ground in Central AsiaSouth China Morning Post
- Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spotsThe Straits Times (Reuters)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.