The Association "Russian Automotive Dealers" (ROAD) proposed increasing the transport tax for cars older than 15 years and introducing mandatory technical inspection for them twice a year. According to the association, this should stimulate the purchase of new cars. However, the idea has provoked sharp criticism from experts and motorists.
The editor-in-chief of the magazine "Za Rulem" Maxim Kadakov compared this initiative with an attempt to forcibly relocate people from old apartments to business-class housing by sharply increasing utility bills. He believes that even with a recycling program and a surcharge from the state, an old car cannot be exchanged for a new one - the difference in price is too great.
Automotive expert Yegor Vasiliev also does not believe in the effectiveness of this measure: according to him, Russians do not buy new cars not out of spite, but because of a lack of money. He believes that such proposals will only reduce the market and make owning a car even more expensive.
The "National Automobile Union" (NAS) notes that the ROAD initiative reflects the "predatory grin of capitalism" and demonstrates detachment from reality: sellers shift the problems of the industry onto the shoulders of consumers, and then are surprised by the negative reaction.
Auto expert Denis Gavrilov adds that such a measure is more likely to lead to an increase in activity in the secondary market, and not to an increase in sales of new cars. Moreover, the cost of cars close to 15 years of age may decrease, which will hit owners.
Independent expert Alexey Tuzov admits that in theory, increasing the tax could speed up the renewal of the car fleet. However, without compensation mechanisms - for example, state recycling programs or subsidies - the initiative will only result in an additional financial burden and an increase in social tension.
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