Serbia is still the European graveyard of cars

Six thousand were imported into Serbia in the first half of the year used cars more than in the same period last year - a total of 71.495.

Admittedly, the number of imported outdated vehicles with Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards is slightly decreasing - the import of which is prohibited in almost all European countries except Serbia.

Only every sixth imported car is new, and they are mostly imported by legal entities.

"We have a larger number of imported cars older than 15 years - Euro 3, Euro 4 standard - than new vehicles sold," RTS reports the words of Boris Ćorović from the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.

"The consequences are environmental, but also safety, because a 23- or 24-year-old car may be able to pass the technical inspection, but the assemblies and elements that are not checked during the inspection are in questionable condition," he says.

Almost like trash

Serbia is one of the largest importers of used cars from the EU. As the "newer" cars are now being imported, the average age of the fleet will not exceed 18 years. Even so, Serbia is at the very back of Europe.

According to the Serbian authorities, the number of cars indicates a higher standard of living. The ban on the import of Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards has been announced many times - President Vučić also spoke about this in 2020. But nothing was implemented.

"Even though these are ancient vehicles, some made in the last century, they also have the status of waste in Europe," experienced automotive journalist Petar Živković told "Vreme" earlier.

In a major survey in 2023, "Vreme" reconstructed the path of the used car from Germany or the Netherlands to Serbia.

"I assume that importers have a strong lobby. Nine out of ten imported used cars pass through their hands," Živković said at the time and added:

"The market has not dried up because many places in Western Europe are held by people who have good connections with our importers. It is more profitable for them to sell the karst to us than to force it to waste."

And second-hand cars are getting more expensive.

Admittedly, poverty and inflation are driving people to cheaper older cars. And the prices of used vehicles have also increased - because they are increasing in the EU.

"At our company, prices have risen between 10 and 15 percent this year, and the main reason is more expensive procurement," says Vladimir Ćosić, general manager of the Autolend Kompresor company, to RTS.

Then again, as assistant professor at FPN Marko Vujić told "Vremen" earlier, a lower standard should not be an excuse for importing cars that poison the environment.

"Albania has lower wages, lower environmental standards, lags behind in everything - but cars with a minimum Euro 5 standard can be imported into Albania," he reminded.

Sources: Vreme, RTS, Forbes