A recent letter from the Association of “Russian Auto Dealers” (ROAD) to the head of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, highlights ongoing delays in issuing electronic vehicle passports (EPTS) for newly imported cars. The correspondence, obtained by Vedomosti, calls for concrete steps to accelerate the EPTS issuance so that vehicles can move more quickly from import to sale.
According to ROAD, the petition, signed by Executive Director Vyacheslav Zhigalov, urges the ministry to streamline the EPTS process for fresh arrivals. The goal is to reduce bureaucratic friction that currently stalls registration and activation steps essential for putting a car into the hands of customers without unnecessary postponements.
At present, delays in registering and activating EPTS can stretch to several weeks. During this period, the vehicle cannot be handed over to the buyer, which respondents say disrupts dealer operations and undermines consumer confidence. The association argues that even modest holdups ripple through the market, affecting not only sales figures but also the reputations of dealers who strive to deliver reliable service and timely vehicle delivery.
Independent reports from Fontanka.ru note similar issues with paperwork for cars and the associated delays affecting customers in St. Petersburg toward the end of May. These accounts reinforce ROAD’s concern that administrative slowdowns are interfering with the normal flow of imported vehicles and creating negative customer experiences that could dampen demand in a competitive market.
Industry observers emphasize that the EPTS system is designed to provide transparent, verifiable records for every new vehicle entering the country, supporting post-sale service, warranty processing, and compliance checks. Streamlining this framework could reduce wait times, improve dealer utilization of showroom inventories, and help preserve consumer trust across major markets in the region. ROAD’s appeal suggests a broader industry interest in aligning regulatory timelines with the practical realities of import logistics and retailer operations. [Road letter to Manturov]