BAKU, September 8
South Korean brands have overtaken Japanese and German rivals as the most imported passenger cars in Azerbaijan over the past five years, according to an analysis by the Media Analysis Center (MTM) using official data from the State Statistics Committee.
At the end of 2024, the country’s passenger car fleet reached 1,585,265 vehicles, an increase of 5.5 percent (83,308 units) from the previous year. While Soviet-era Ladas still dominate Azerbaijan’s roads overall — with 408,426 cars accounting for 25.8 percent of the total fleet — the trend in new imports tells a different story.
Hyundai and Kia on Top
Between 2020 and 2024, Hyundai was the single most imported brand, with 68,621 cars entering the country. Kia, another South Korean marque, followed closely with 59,852. Together, the two brands accounted for nearly half of all new cars from South Korea, totaling 129,176 units over five years.
Japan came second with 84,907 cars, led by Toyota (58,329), but also including Nissan, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Honda and Mazda. German manufacturers ranked third, with 62,481 imports — mostly Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche.
Other Global Players
Chevrolet (34,451 imports) and Opel (23,060) also performed strongly, while luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce (74), Maserati (204), Bentley (371) and Jaguar (159) were imported in much smaller numbers.
Chinese automakers, though still a small share of the total, are growing fast. Imports of Chinese cars jumped by 24,919 units over five years, with Changan (8,950) and BYD (4,083) leading the way. By the end of 2024, there were 27,356 Chinese cars registered in Azerbaijan, accounting for 1.7 percent of the fleet.
Overall Car Market by Origin
Russia (mainly Lada): 488,646 cars, 30.8% of total fleet
Germany: 371,708 cars, 23.4%
South Korea: 252,023 cars, 15.9%
Japan: 222,566 cars, 14%
United States: 87,053 cars, 5.5%
China: 27,356 cars, 1.7%
Local production: 13,512 cars, 0.9%
Combined, Russia, Germany, South Korea and Japan account for 84.2 percent of all passenger cars in Azerbaijan.
A Shift in Preferences
The data highlights a clear shift: while Russian and German cars still dominate the overall fleet, South Korean imports have surged in recent years, reshaping the market. Hyundai and Kia now stand as Azerbaijan’s fastest-growing brands, while Chinese automakers are making quiet but steady inroads.
