Uzbekistan Mandates ‘Environmental Certificates’ for Eco-Friendly Vehicles
Uzbekistan’s New Hybrid Vehicle Regulations Spark Controversy
In a recent move, Uzbekistan has mandated that all hybrid vehicles imported into the country must be accompanied by an ecological certificate demonstrating compliance with at least the Euro-4 emission standard. This regulation has ignited significant backlash among potential vehicle owners and industry stakeholders, who argue that it is impractical and out of touch with international automotive trends.
According to the Auto Clear channel, the new requirement applies not only to vehicle models but to each individual unit. Acquiring this certificate comes at a steep cost of over 2 million UZS (approximately $160). Critics point out the absurdity of the requirement, given that many hybrid vehicles currently being imported, particularly those from China, are already compliant with Euro-5 or higher standards—criteria that Chinese manufacturers adopted as early as 2018.
This regulation specifically targets hybrid vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) that charge electric motors, impacting popular brands like Lixiang, Leapmotor, Voyah, Deepal, AITO, Neta, and Avatr. Auto-blogger Azizbek Berdiev has publicly questioned the rationale behind the new verification processes, stating, “If imported cars meet Euro-5 or Euro-6 standards, why are we verifying them again? Should entrepreneurs really be paying over 2 million just to confirm what’s already known?”
From a regulatory standpoint, China established its “China-5” emissions standards in 2018, closely aligning them with Euro-5. By 2021, even stricter “China-6a” standards were enacted, followed by “China-6b” in 2023. This indicates that Uzbekistan is demanding proof of compliance with a standard that is significantly outdated—two generations behind current regulations.
The response to these regulations has not gone unnoticed at the governmental level. On May 3, the Senate of Uzbekistan issued a formal statement confirming that a parliamentary inquiry had been directed to the Minister of Ecology, Aziz Abdukhakimov. The inquiry, spearheaded by Anvar Tuychiev, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water Management, and Ecology, poses several pressing questions:
- The legal and procedural basis for ecological certification in Uzbekistan;
- The accreditation and technical capabilities of local testing laboratories;
- The regulatory foundation for requiring such certification specifically for hybrid electric vehicles;
- The cost structure of the certification process and the grounds for approval or rejection.
Thus far, the government has not clarified how it is measuring environmental safety, especially given the lack of comprehensive information regarding testing procedures and equipment.
This is not the first instance of unexpected challenges facing vehicle imports in Uzbekistan. Since November 1, 2024, individual imports have been subjected to mandatory electromagnetic compatibility testing, conducted exclusively at a single lab in Piskent. In one notable case, a Leapmotor vehicle failed this test, resulting in a temporary ban on the importation of its entire brand.
Moreover, starting May 1, 2025, the government is set to increase the utilization fee for new electric vehicles by an astounding 400%, significantly bolstering the cost of transitioning to greener alternatives.
As stakeholders continue to voice their concerns, the future of hybrid vehicle imports in Uzbekistan remains uncertain, posing challenges for both consumers and businesses alike.
