Russian automakers asked to stop the "gray" import of foreign cars

The Association of Automobile Manufacturers of Russia (UAR) proposed to adjust the methodology for calculating scrap collection, as well as to stop the "gray" import of cars organized by sellers through importation to individuals. This was reported by Interfax on September 5.

A corresponding letter signed by Sergey Kogogin, Head of KAMAZ and Chairman of the Board of the UAR Association, Vadim Sorokin, President of the GAZ Group, and Nikolai Sobolev, CEO of Sollers, has been sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

Automakers noted that the amount of scrap is calculated based on the type and displacement of the engine (in cubic cm). Given the development of technology in the automotive industry, this is becoming less relevant. Turbo engines, which have become widespread, including in Chinese cars, have higher power with a small volume (on average 1.5 liters). In addition, the number of hybrid cars is growing, the designs of which include an internal combustion engine (ICE) with a small volume (about 1.5 liters).

"There is a situation where cars of radically different price categories are subject to the same amount of recycling tax if they have a relatively small engine capacity. For example, the budget sedan Changan Alsvin with a recommended retail price of 1.85 million rubles and an engine capacity of 1.48 liters (98 hp) is subject to a recycling fee of 677.4 thousand rubles. The same amount of disposal fee is provided for a BMW X3 car with a recommended retail price of 8 million rubles and an engine capacity of 1.99 liters (255 hp) and for a sequential hybrid Aito M9 with a recommended retail price of 10 million rubles and a capacity of 496 hp," the letter says.

The recycling calculation system has stopped providing "social differentiation": for a more powerful and expensive car, a more significant amount of recycling fee is paid, according to the UAR.

The Association also drew attention to the fact that preferential recycling rates for individuals (3.4 thousand rubles when importing a new car and 5.2 thousand rubles. for the import of cars with mileage older than three years) in combination with the current system of calculating scrap by engine volume led to a significant increase in the share of imports "for physicists". This includes expensive luxury cars with a small turbo engine, as well as electric and hybrid power plants.

According to the UAR, if in 2024 the monthly share of cars imported into the Russian Federation for individuals in the total volume of imports was 1-50%, then in 2025 it will be 50-70% or more.

"If civilized importers import cars to Russia, paying a recycling fee for legal entities, and then sell them on the domestic market, then unscrupulous business has moved into the "gray zone", taking advantage of the colossal difference between the size of the recycling collection for individuals and legal entities (more than 100 times). In fact, the car is imported into Russia by a business structure, but at a discounted rate directly to an individual who pays remuneration to an intermediary in cash," the letter from the automakers to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade says.

The UAR noted that when using "gray schemes" of imports, the budget does not receive significant amounts of scrap, and cars are imported without guarantees of their quality and safety, maintenance and supply of spare parts. Official importers and dealers who import cars with the payment of all taxes and fees incur economic damage.

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Earlier, Sergey Ignatov, head of Key customer relations at <url>, spoke about the differences between cars for the Chinese domestic market and export models. They may be less suitable for use in Russian conditions, including due to the lack of certain options, for example, heated steering wheel and windshield. The specialist said that buying a car in Russia intended for the Chinese domestic market may be cheaper, but there may be problems with Russification and the purchase of spare parts.

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