Growth in car imports does not indicate an increase in the welfare of Azerbaijanis

Baku/23.12.21/Turan: Reporting on the well-being of the people, official sources in Baku refer to an increase in the volume of purchases by the population of goods of secondary necessity. The State Customs Committee reported that for 11 months of 2021, Azerbaijan imported 81,726 cars for $ 835,376,720. Most of the imported cars (76,348) are passenger cars, with a total cost of $ 704,752,710. Compared to 2020, 32,070 cars or 72.4% more were transported, and their value increased by 45.3%.

The calculation shows that, on average, one passenger car brought into the country cost $ 9230 or AZN 15692 on the border with Azerbaijan. Together with the customs duty, such cars will be sold for 20,000 manats on the domestic market in Azerbaijan. This is the average price for used cars with 6-10 years of service life.

Of the imported passenger cars, 11.464 thousand units are hybrid, for a total of $ 69 million 726.89 thousand. One hybrid car costs $ 6 thousand, or 10,300 manats. Hybrid vehicles are exempt from taxation. Sellers will put these cars on the market with a mark-up of 2-3 thousand dollars - a total of about 13 thousand manats. At this price, old Toyota Prius made 12-15 years ago are being sold in the car market in the country.

These cars are bought for use in taxis. According to media reports, the number of companies offering daily rent (30 manat) hybrid cars for use as a taxi is growing in Baku. The number of taxi companies is also growing.

At first glance, it turns out that the population has more free money to buy cars, which are not essential goods. On the other hand, the number of taxis in Baku is growing. The purchase of old, mostly hybrid cars indicates that unemployment is growing in Azerbaijan and people are using the last collected money to buy economical cars in order to drive. 

In favor of the version of the forced purchase of used cars for taxi services, the State Statistics Committee's data indicate that the volume of cargo transportation by all types of vehicles in Azerbaijan has hardly changed. That is, the amount of goods produced and transported has not increased. In January-November 2021, it amounted to 174 million 796.3 thousand tons, which was only 2.2% more than in 11 months of 2020. Let us clarify that in 2020 the economy in the country partially "stopped" due to the coronavirus lockdown. — 0—