Kazakhstan plans to increase automobile production to 190,000 units by 2026. This was announced by Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev at a government meeting on July 21, Zakon.kz reported.
According to Nagaspayev, approximately 457 billion tenge ($975 million) in investment has been attracted to the country's automotive industry over the past five years. In 2025, Kazakhstan produced more than 171,000 vehicles, an 18% increase compared to the previous year. In the first six months of 2026, production reached 94,400 vehicles, an increase of 35% year-on-year.
Analytical Commentary
The automotive industry is becoming one of the most dynamically developing segments of Kazakhstan's manufacturing economy. This growth is driven by the expansion of existing facilities, localization of assembly, and the attraction of foreign investment. State policy is aimed at creating a complete production chain—from vehicle assembly to the production of individual components.
By comparison, Uzbekistan's automotive industry remains the largest in Central Asia in terms of production scale. The Uzbek auto industry, centered around UzAuto Motors, produces over 300,000 vehicles annually and holds a dominant position in the domestic market. The country is also actively developing electric vehicle production and collaborating with Chinese automakers.
Kazakhstan, in turn, is focusing on industry diversification and a gradual increase in production volumes. At current growth rates, the gap with Uzbekistan is gradually narrowing, but Tashkent's main advantage remains its large manufacturing base and long-standing experience in mass-producing automobiles.
The development of the automotive industry is of strategic importance for Kazakhstan, as it contributes to the creation of new jobs, the development of mechanical engineering, and a reduction in dependence on imported finished goods.
In the future, competition between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could encourage the countries to expand cooperation, develop regional supply chains, and enter new markets.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 21, 2026