Electric vehicles, once viewed as luxury novelties, are steadily making their way onto Dhaka’s crowded streets.
More than 500 EVs have been registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority since September 2022, when official registration began. Annual registrations have jumped from about 70 in 2023 to well over 300 this year, officials said.
Global carmakers are seizing the opportunity. Mercedes-Benz now offers four electric models in Bangladesh and sells about a dozen units monthly. China’s BYD, which entered the market in 2024, has sold nearly 300 units and delivers more than 50 vehicles a month. The company operates 14 charging stations and provides free home chargers.
BMW is more cautious, selling a single electric model priced at around Tk 3.5 crore ($300,000). Tesla cars are also appearing, though only about 20 have been imported so far.
Industry insiders cite scarce charging infrastructure, political uncertainty and the absence of government incentives as barriers to wider adoption.