Kazakhstan Automobile Union

What Kazakhstan Automobile Union does

Kazakhstan Automobile Union (ҚАО, KAU) is a non-profit industry association founded on July 21, 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan, operating as the primary coordinating body for the country's automotive sector. The union unites 7 member associations—representing automobile manufacturers, automotive component producers, importers, dealers, public transport operators, business development, and automotive experts/auditors (QazAutoStandard)—alongside 10 domestic vehicle manufacturers. Its core activities include publishing market analysis and statistical reports on vehicle production and sales, coordinating industry-stakeholder dialogue, advocating for industrial cooperation and component localization, and facilitating export support for Kazakhstan's automotive industry.

The organization does not sell commercial technology products; instead, it generates revenue through membership fees and paid market reports. Its services include periodic market reviews, sales statistics, consumer preference data, regulatory advocacy, and industry coordination. The union has expanded its public-facing activities to include convening multi-stakeholder discussions on emerging topics such as electric vehicle safety standards, battery technology, and charging infrastructure development—demonstrating growing relevance in Kazakhstan's NEV transition.

Kazakhstan Automobile Union is led by President Anar Makasheva and maintains a lean operational team (11-50 employees) based at its headquarters in Astana's SEVEN Business Center. It distributes content through its trilingual website (kao.kz in Russian, Kazakh, and English), Instagram (@KAZAVTOUNION), and YouTube (@kao_kazavtounion). The union's strategic positioning as an industry-government liaison gives it influence over automotive policy, including technical regulations and EV classification standards, while its reporting activity (e.g., Q1 2026 production of 45,260 units, +36.8% YoY) positions it as the authoritative data source for the Kazakhstan automotive market.

Name

Kazakhstan Automobile Union

Legal name

Объединение юридических лиц «Қазақстанның Автокөлік Одағы» (Association of Legal Entities "Kazakhstan Automobile Union")

Website

https://kao.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kazakhstan Automobile Union is a non-profit industry association founded in 2023 in Astana, uniting 7 automotive sector associations and 10 domestic manufacturers to provide market analysis, statistical reporting, regulatory advocacy, and industry coordination services for Kazakhstan's automotive industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Astana

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry association services: The Kazakhstan Automobile Union operates as a non-profit organization providing market analysis, industry statistics, reviews, and coordination services to member associations and the broader automotive industry. Revenue is generated through membership fees and report sales rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kazakhstan Automobile Union is a non-profit industry association that unites 7 automotive sector associations and represents 10 domestic vehicle manufacturers. It provides automotive market analysis, statistical reports on vehicle sales and production, consumer preference data, infographics, and serves as the coordinating body between the automotive industry and government bodies in Kazakhstan.

Product overview

Kazakhstan Automobile Union (ҚАО) is a non-profit industry association founded on July 21, 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Rather than offering a software product, the organization provides industry services including automotive market analysis, statistical reports on vehicle sales and production, consumer preferences data, and market share information. The union comprises 7 associations and 10 domestic manufacturers, and publishes periodic market reviews and infographics covering Kazakhstan's automotive sector performance. No distinct branded software products, modules, or digital platforms are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• In Q1 2026, Kazakhstan produced 45,260 units of vehicles and equipment, up 36.8% year-on-year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QazAutoStandard (Association of Automotive Experts and Auditors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2025The Kazakhstan Automobile Union collaborated with QazAutoStandard and other industry experts to conduct a discussion on electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle safety, battery technology standards, and charging infrastructure development in Kazakhstan.
• Orbis AutominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2025Represented by CEO Dinara Iskakova, Orbis Auto participated in the Kazakhstan Automobile Union's discussion on NEV safety, emphasizing the importance of certified vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure.
• Association of Kazakhstan Automobile ManufacturerscoreOthersMember association representing Kazakhstan's automobile manufacturers. One of the seven core associations within the Kazakhstan Automobile Union.
• Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers of KazakhstancoreOthersMember association representing producers of automotive components and parts in Kazakhstan. One of the seven core associations within the union.
• Association of Importers of KazakhstancoreOthersMember association representing companies importing vehicles and automotive products into Kazakhstan. One of the seven core associations within the union.
• Association of Business and Entrepreneurship DevelopmentcoreOthersMember association focused on business development and entrepreneurship support within the automotive sector. One of the seven core associations within the union.
• Public Transport AssociationcoreOthersMember association representing public transportation operators and companies in Kazakhstan. One of the seven core associations within the union.
• Association of Automotive Experts and Auditors QazAutoStandardcoreOthersMember association providing certification and audit services for automotive compliance. The association's president Erbol Seipilov has spoken on technical regulations and EV classification standards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ANFAVEA: Brazilian automotive industry association representing vehicle and component manufacturers. Comparable to KAO as a national-level association providing production statistics, market data, and government policy coordination.
• Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association: Japanese automotive industry association covering OEMs, suppliers, and policy advocacy. Comparable in structure and member-driven model to KAO, with a stronger emphasis on regulatory and trade coordination.
• Alliance for Automotive Innovation: US-based auto industry association focused on innovation, EVs, and policy advocacy. Comparable to KAO in its mix of OEM membership, regulatory engagement, and emerging-technology focus (especially EVs).
• China Association of Automobile Manufacturers: National-level industry association coordinating China's OEMs, suppliers, and policy dialogue. Highly comparable to KAO as a national automotive industry association serving manufacturers, component makers, and government-liaison functions.
• Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association: Trade association representing Korean OEMs including Hyundai and Kia. Directly comparable to KAO in terms of OEM advocacy, market data publishing, and government policy engagement, particularly relevant given Hyundai/Kia presence in Kazakhstan.

Broad incumbents

• OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers): Global federation of national automotive industry associations. Comparable to KAO as an industry body, but operating internationally rather than domestically; Kazakhstan manufacturers are represented through such federations.
• Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA): Germany's automotive industry association representing a mature, globally significant auto ecosystem. Comparable to KAO in function but with much broader resources, established advocacy, and technical standards work.
• European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA): European auto industry body representing OEMs across the EU. Comparable to KAO as a regional industry association providing market data, policy advocacy, and stakeholder coordination, but at a far larger scale.

Regional players

• Autostat: Russian automotive market research and analytics provider. Comparable to KAO in producing automotive market intelligence and statistics for a CIS-region market, though as a commercial research firm rather than a member association.

Emerging players

• Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM): Indian automotive industry association representing OEMs and component makers. Comparable to KAO in coordinating a high-growth emerging-market auto industry, though SIAM operates at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kao_kazavtounion
• Instagraminstagram.com/KAZAVTOUNION
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kazautounion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kazakhstan Automobile Union