Industry and Trade Ministry favors tightening procedures for certifying foreign vehicles for Russian market

MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - The procedure for certifying foreign vehicles for the Russian market should be tightened, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said.

He cited the example of trucks from three unnamed Chinese brands, which he said should not be allowed on Russia's roads.

"Generally, Chinese car manufacturers are actively penetrating our market, gaining an increasing share. To restore the balance, the ministry is conducting a consistent indexation of recycling fees. But this is not enough. A stricter approach is needed for certification, especially for checking the compliance of vehicles from production batches," Alikhanov said at a meeting of the State Council regarding industry.

The ministry has already conducted an analysis of trucks and "identified serious violations with vehicles from three Chinese brands, which simply cannot be allowed on the roads," he said. "In such cases, we will take measures, including revoking certificates, and work with the Prosecutor General's Office. This is extremely necessary, given that demand for trucks may drop by a quarter," he said.

Previously, the Industry and Trade Ministry, citing data on registrations of Electronic Vehicle Passports, said that truck sales in Russia fell 13% in 2024 to 121,600 units. The current year also began with a decline in the truck segment -with sales down 29% to 5,300 units in January, according to the ministry's estimates.

"While enterprises are supporting their production plans through defense orders, which already account for half or more of the output, car factories are operating at a loss. We have already indicated to the Defense Ministry that fixed prices need to be reviewed. There are instructions from the president on this matter. They need to be implemented," Alikhanov said at the State Council meeting.