Demand for Russian cars in Kazakhstan has dropped to almost zero

In Kazakhstan, the demand for Russian cars has sharply decreased: in June, automobile imports amounted to only $72 (about 6 thousand rubles). This figure means a drop of 99 percent compared to previous months, writes the Mash Telegram channel. The reason was the new rules for recycling fees, due to which Russian cars lost their main advantage in the Kazakh market - cost.

In 2025, Kazakhstan imported 236.9 thousand cars, of which 6,874 were Russian passenger cars, which is approximately 2.9 percent of the total volume. But the market continued to grow. January deliveries brought in about one million dollars, in February and March - 1.5 million each, and in April - 5.5 million dollars.

The situation changed dramatically after the recycling collection increase on May 8, 2026. For small cars from Russia and Belarus, the coefficient increased from 3.5 to 136. Now the fee for one car can reach 29.4 million tenge (about 5.5 million rubles).

In Kazakhstan, the changes were explained by retaliatory measures: Russia had previously introduced similar restrictions for cars from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. The new rules most significantly affected sales of the Lada brand, which by August 2026 dropped out of the list of the twenty best-selling cars in Kazakhstan. Sales of Russian GAZ and UAZ cars also fell.

According to market experts, about 35 percent of initial registrations in Kazakhstan are “gray” imports. Since September 1 of this year, Kazakhstan has strengthened customs and technical control. On behalf of the country's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, measures are being developed against the illegal import of vehicles.