Trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and China have been intensively developing in recent years at the initiative of the leaders of Uzbekistan and China. The automotive industry is noted as one of the promising areas.

More than a quarter of a century has passed since the founding of this industry in Uzbekistan. During this time, Uzbekistan has found its niche in the global automotive market, and China has become one of the leading countries in this area. This indicates broad prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Recently, a new plant specializing in the production of trucks under the FAW brand was launched in Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

Uzavtosanoat JSC and China’s BYD established the BYD Uzbekistan Factory joint venture in Jizzakh region. An investment agreement was signed to establish the production of electric vehicles and hybrid cars. With the launch of this plant, it will be possible to produce 300 thousand cars per year. Engineering and service centers will be opened, and the plan for supplying BYD electric buses to Uzbekistan will be supported. One of the leaders in producing electric vehicles and new-generation batteries, BYD, manufactures up to 2 million cars annually.

Chinese automakers have become the largest automaker in the world since 2009, producing the most significant number of cars globally. Every year, more cars are assembled in China than the traditional leaders of the global automotive market, the United States and Japan. Even the European Union produces fewer cars than China.

The growth in the production of the automobile industry and its trade increases the need for petroleum products in the country. In this regard, the government has developed a program to develop an energy-saving automotive sector. Since 2015, the automotive industry based on alternative fuels (green cars) has been developing in China. The growth in trade in such vehicles contributes to the solution of China’s two global problems – a significant reduction in the country’s dependence on hydrocarbon imports and a radical improvement in the air pollution situation in large cities.

Experts predict that by 2040, 58 percent of all cars will be electric vehicles. Establishing a partnership between Uzbekistan and China in the automotive industry, particularly in producing electric vehicles, will allow Uzbekistan to find its place in the world market. Such cooperation plays a vital role in developing Uzbekistan’s economy and strengthening friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples.

S. Rakhimov, UzA