Fuel shortages and rising petrol prices are driving more Russian motorists towards Chinese electric vehicles, though infrastructure challenges continue to limit wider adoption.
Fuel shortages across Russia are driving a sharp increase in demand for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), as motorists look for alternatives to expensive and hard-to-find petrol and diesel, according to Reuters.
The supply disruption, sparked by repeated attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, has led to fuel restrictions in several regions and pushed retail petrol prices to some of the highest levels in Europe.
Moscow-based dealer EN Cars, which specialises in Chinese brands, is now selling two to three EVs a day, compared with two to three a month just weeks ago. “Since the fuel situation became complicated, demand has grown many times over,” founder Yevgeniy Zabelin told Reuters.
Industry analysts mention the current rise reflects an immediate response to the fuel crisis rather than a long-term shift. Sergei Udalov, executive director at Autostat, said sales could grow significantly if shortages persist, with Chinese manufacturers likely to benefit the most.
Chinese brands including Geely, Dongfeng, GAC and Chery dominate Russia’s EV and hybrid market. In the first five months of the year, plug-in hybrid sales surged 125% year-on-year to about 24,600 units, while fully electric vehicle sales rose 19% to 4,460, according to Autostat and Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Despite the recent increase, EVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for only 4.3% of Russia’s total car sales last year, as limited charging infrastructure and the country’s vast geography continue to slow larger adoption.
