Beyond EVs and perception, how China is gaining ground in Central Asia

In Kazakhstan’s futuristic capital Astana, car dealer Auyez Kabdygali is planning a big change to his business as he switches from importing European cars to Chinese electric vehicles.

Kabdygali says there is increasing demand for Chinese EVs both from locals and Russian customers due to their competitive price and quality.

His grandfather is among the converts – he has an order in for a BYD Han, the carmaker’s flagship model, and plans to collect it from a terminal on the border with China and...