The main players in Cambodia’s auto market include international brands, Chinese brands, local companies, dealer networks and policy promoters, which can be divided into the following six categories:

Japanese brands: They have long dominated the Cambodian market. Toyota and Honda have established local sales networks through joint ventures (such as Cambodia Toyota and Cambodia Honda). Models such as Camry and Corolla continue to be popular among family users.

Luxury brands such as Lexus and Land Rover are still the first choice for the wealthy class. For example, the Lexus LX570 is priced at up to US$350,000 and has become a symbol of status.

European and American brands: BMW and Mercedes-Benz attract middle- and high-income groups through high-end positioning, and Ford pickups occupy a place in the commercial market with strong power.

Tesla entered Cambodia in 2021 and opened a showroom in Phnom Penh. Model 3 and Model Y attracted young consumers with their brand influence, but the high price (about US$48,000) restricted market penetration.

Korean brands: Hyundai and Kia compete in the mid-to-low-end market through cost-effective strategies. Hyundai Elantra and Kia Sportage are popular among family users.

New energy leaders:

BYD: As the absolute leader in Cambodia’s electric vehicle market, the registration volume reached 658 in 2024, accounting for nearly 30% of the electric vehicle market. It cooperated with Harmony Auto Group to open 3 stores in Phnom Penh and laid the foundation for the first new energy vehicle factory in April 2025, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 vehicles, and is expected to be put into production in the fourth quarter.

Hongqi: Positioning the mid-to-high-end market, providing 8 years/160,000 kilometers of warranty and 24-hour rescue service, the E-QM5 pure electric vehicle has outstanding performance in government and corporate procurement.

Fengxing Automobile: Rapidly rising through the “blitzkrieg” strategy, the market share in 2024 will increase from less than 5% to more than 20%, and intelligent driving assistance systems and L2 autonomous driving technology will become competitive advantages.

Main traditional and SUV brands:

Great Wall Motors: The pickup series has become the first choice for families, business owners and government agencies due to its practicality and high cost-effectiveness. Since its opening in June 2023, it has sold more than 100 vehicles. Haval H6 and Tank 300 have performed well in the SUV market.

Chery: It plans to invest in the automobile manufacturing and parts industry in Cambodia, aiming to cover the local and ASEAN markets. Its OMODA 5 and J7 models have been successful in other Southeast Asian countries.

Emerging brands: Nezha, GAC Aion, Jietu, etc. have deployed market segments through differentiated products, such as GAC Aion AION Y PLUS, which focuses on smart technology.

Aeon Motor: A local electric vehicle brand in Cambodia, founded in 2017, its products are close to international brands in performance and range, and are more affordable, mainly covering the electric motorcycle and small electric vehicle markets.

GTV Motors: Cambodia’s first domestically-produced automobile factory, which will be put into production in early 2024, focuses on producing economical models for the local market, with an annual assembly capacity of 35,000 vehicles, and aims to reduce the price of new cars.

ZO Motors: A Sino-Japanese joint venture focusing on the research and development and manufacturing of new energy commercial vehicles. It cooperates with ABA Bank to promote the construction of charging networks and plans to deploy charging stations across the country.

Harmony Auto Group: As BYD’s general distributor in Cambodia, it has opened 3 stores and plans to expand to 10 by the end of the year, providing integrated display, sales and after-sales services.

Mingyang International Trade: General agent of Hongqi Automobile, establishing a national after-sales service system, and providing an 8-year/160,000-kilometer warranty.

Yilu Industrial: General agent of Great Wall Motors, with a large comprehensive repair shop and standard 4S store in Cambodia, providing a 5-year/150,000-kilometer quality guarantee.

SNKH: Exclusively introduces China’s NETA Auto electric vehicles, provides a 10-year/200,000-kilometer vehicle warranty, and launches promotional activities such as free cross-border travel for car purchases.

Jingsun Car: A Chinese automobile company with a rich and diverse source of vehicles, including popular Chinese electric vehicles, Sino-Japanese, Sino-Korean, and Sino-German joint venture vehicles, mainly new energy vehicles. There are offline stores in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where you can experience them at any time.

The Cambodian government: Through the “Roadmap for Developing and Attracting Automotive Industry Investment” and the “Electric Vehicle Development Policy (2024-2030)”, the goal is to achieve 30,000 electric vehicle ownership by 2030 and create a regional parts manufacturing center. Policies include reducing import tariffs on electric vehicles to 50%, providing a 9-year tax exemption period, and supporting the construction of charging networks.

International organizations: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides funding to support the construction of charging stations. Currently, 21 charging stations have been built across the country, and a network covering major cities will be formed in the future.

Tire manufacturing: Chinese companies such as Sailun and Jiangsu General Technology have set up factories in Cambodia. In 2024, the export value of tires will reach US$870 million, driving the growth of rubber processing and employment.

Charging network:

Trend Intelligence: Deploy charging piles that support multilingual and international payments, and plan to cover major cities in the next 3-5 years.

Cornerstone Technology: Cooperate with Golden Cambodia Century to establish a joint venture company, and build charging stations in 10 locations in the first phase, covering shopping malls and gas stations.

Chevron: Plans to install 300 charging stations within three years to promote the popularization of charging networks.

Japanese used cars dominate: more than 60,000 used cars are imported each year, accounting for nearly 90% of the market, mainly imported through Sihanoukville, and Toyota Camry, Hilux and other models are the most popular.

Chinese exporters: Hunan Jiade Overseas Commercial Development Co., Ltd. and other companies have introduced Chinese used cars into the Cambodian market through the used car export pilot, and 184 orders have been signed in 2022.

Market structure and competition situation

The rise of Chinese brands: In 2024, Chinese brands will account for more than 20% of the Cambodian automobile market. BYD, Hongqi, Great Wall and others will gradually break the Japanese monopoly through cost-effectiveness, localized services and policy support.

New energy explosion: The number of electric vehicle registrations will surge 620% year-on-year in 2024. Brands such as BYD, Tesla, and Aeon Motor will promote the rapid transformation of the market. The government aims to achieve 40% electrification of automobiles by 2050.

SUVs and pickup trucks continue to sell well: Models such as Lexus LX570 and Great Wall Haval have long occupied the mainstream market due to their adaptation to complex road conditions and family needs. Great Wall and Ford are in fierce competition in the pickup truck market.

The Cambodian automobile market is transforming from import dependence to localized manufacturing. With technology output and policy dividends, Chinese brands are expected to further expand their market share and promote Cambodia to become one of the ASEAN automobile manufacturing centers.