The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution introducing higher recycling fees for electric vehicles (EVs) as part of efforts to enhance battery disposal infrastructure. The resolution, on additional measures to finance the organization of infrastructure for the disposal of batteries of electric vehicles," aims to support the expansion of green technologies while ensuring environmentally safe disposal of used EV batteries.
Under the new regulation, the recycling fee for electric vehicles will be:
- 120 times the minimum reference point (MRP)—equivalent to UZS 45mn ($3,483)—for EVs up to three years old.
- 210 times the MRP—amounting to UZS 78.75mn ($6,095)—for EVs older than three years.
The increase is UZS 33.75mn ($2,612), which is a 75% increase from the previous rate.
Uzbekistan has witnessed a tenfold increase in EV imports over the past seven years, reflecting the country’s shift toward sustainable transport. Several government initiatives have contributed to this growth:
- 2019: The government exempted imported EVs from customs duties, excise taxes, and motor vehicle taxes to encourage adoption.
- November 2021: The Ministry of Transport introduced green license plates for electric vehicles.
- 2024 Presidential Decree: Uzbekistan plans to expand production capacity for EVs and hybrid cars to 500,000 units annually in the coming years.
Recent data indicates a rise in EV imports and sales. In 8M24, Uzbekistan imported 12,913 electric vehicles worth $166.8mn, an increase of nearly six times compared to the same period in 2022. In September 2024, EV sales reached 4,240 units, up from 1,700 in August, according to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms.
Meanwhile, gasoline-powered car imports dropped by 28% in the first nine months of the year, while hybrid and electric car imports rose 49% y/y.
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