ArmInfo. In 2024, it will be possible to import 7,400 electric vehicles into Armenia with zero customs duty. The decision to apply tariff benefits to electric vehicles imported into the territory of the Republic of Armenia was made on December 28 at a government meeting. The rationale for the decision states that during the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, an agreement was reached to extend the exemption for the import of electric vehicles for another two years. In Armenia in 2024-2025, a tariff quota will be established for 8,000 vehicles with an electric motor during the year. The remaining 600 units of electric vehicles are planned to be kept in reserve.
In November of this year it was reported that the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) extended duty-free import of electric vehicles into all countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), except Russia, until the end of 2025. In March 2022, the EEC Council established quotas for duty-free import of electric vehicles for Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The quota for 2022 for Armenia was 7 thousand vehicles, and 8 thousand vehicles for 2023 (Armenia did not fully exhaust these quotas: about 2,680 electric vehicles were imported in 2022, and almost 4,500 vehicles since the beginning of 2023). As for Belarus - 10 thousand vehicles for 2022 and 15 thousand vehicles for 2023, Kazakhstan 10 thousand vehicles for 2022 and 15 thousand vehicles for 2023, Kyrgyzstan - 5 thousand vehicles for 2022 and 10 thousand vehicles for 2023. The measure was due to expire at the end of this year.
Vehicles imported under the quota can be resold only to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. "It is not permitted to transfer the rights of ownership, use, and disposal of motor vehicles with electric engines to persons who have citizenship of the Russian Federation and (or) permanent residence in the Russian Federation," the EEC noted earlier in its decision. Russia, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has repeatedly opposed the introduction of duty- free import of electric vehicles in hopes of developing domestic production. At a briefing following the meeting of the EAEU Council, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk expressed hope that after 2025, the benefit for the import of electric vehicles into the EAEU will not have to be extended due to the development of its own production. Without the benefit, the import customs duty rate for electric vehicles for the EAEU countries is 15% of the customs value.
