Uzbekistan plans to introduce disposal fee for electric vehicle batteries

Uzbekistan is set to introduce a disposal fee for electric vehicle batteries starting in 2025, according to Deputy Minister Ahadbek Haydarov. This announcement was made during a meeting at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on October 28.

The proposed fee will be levied on importers of finished electric vehicles and domestic battery manufacturers.

"Consequently, the new tax will not affect electric car owners or individuals and legal entities that import fully assembled vehicles," stated the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The fee structure will vary based on battery capacity. For light electric vehicles, the disposal fee will range from 5,000 to 10,000 soums, while for electric trucks, it could be as high as 370,000 soums.

The ministry anticipates collecting approximately 14 billion soums from this initiative, with the funds earmarked for the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change.

In 2024, Uzbekistan has seen significant growth in electric vehicle imports. Over the first eight months, 12,913 electric cars valued at $166.8 million were imported, with 2,471 electric vehicles worth $10.8 million arriving in August alone.

The move to implement a disposal fee follows global trends in electric vehicle adoption. Notably, Norway recently reported that the number of electric cars surpassed gasoline cars for the first time, with 754,303 out of 2.8 million passenger cars registered in the country as of September 16, 2024. In contrast, the number of diesel vehicles is declining, and projections suggest that by 2026, electric cars may outnumber those with diesel engines.