Azerbaijan imported record number of vehicles

Baku/21.01.14/Turan : In 2013, Azerbaijan imported 104,385 units of vehicles. This is a record in the history of the country.

The Government argues that this trend is a testament to the growth and welfare improvement in economic activity.

Compared with 2012 , the volume of imported vehicles increased by 3% . Thus, if in 2012, companies and individuals in the country delivered 89,652 units of passenger cars, last year this figure rose by 5.8 % to 94,879 units.

In 2011, the number of imported cars in Azerbaijan amounted to 64,920 (including 29,718 used ) , 2010 - 51 816 units ( 18.3 % less than in 2009 ) .

At the same time, the government is studying international experience in recycling of old vehicles, which is approximately 50% of the number of vehicles operated in Azerbaijan . The government is working to explore the possibilities for the use of mechanisms to promote renewal of the car park.

Illustrative is the experience of Russia and other countries. Azerbaijan joined on environmental standards for vehicles Euro- 2 from the 1st September 2010 . Observers note that the import of environmentally harmful cars decreased by an order. And from the 1st of April this year in Azerbaijan will be applied environmental standards on emissions of harmful substances Euro- 4 for imported and manufactured in the country vehicles.

The State Customs Committee told Turan that in 2013 imports of other types of vehicles decreased . If 2012 were imported 1,038 minibuses and buses , in 2013 this figure dropped to 827 units. Serious decline was recorded in import of trucks (7,823 units, minus 17.1%) and special vehicles ( 856 units, minus 24.4 %).

According to the State Statistics Committee , in December 2013 the retail price of cars in Azerbaijan decreased by an average of 0.2%. This is a market response to increasing government retail cost of automotive fuel. Experts predict that this factor, as well as stricter environmental requirements for vehicles will negatively affect demand in the automotive market . - 08B-