Prices for grey-market electric vehicle models are expected to rise following the rollout of new customs clearance rules in Russia. This shift was highlighted by Izvestia, referencing Anton Shaparin, the vice president of the National Automobile Union (NAU). The change signals a tighter approach to how imported cars are valued and taxed, particularly for models that do not have official representation in Russia.
Shaparin noted that vehicles entering Russia via third-party routes through Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Armenia, or Kazakhstan will face higher costs. Customs authorities will have the authority to verify the original customs value at the time of import and to examine whether a vehicle is registered under a single owner or multiple owners, or if it has been linked to another optional program in a different country. This intensified scrutiny is set to influence the total cost of ownership for these gray-market cars.
According to the NAU executive, electric cars and hybrids that are no longer officially offered in Russia are likely to be imported on a per-customer basis. In practical terms, this means individual orders crafted to meet specific buyer requests may become more common as dealers adapt to the new framework and the associated pricing dynamics.
The core change affects how the import duties for vehicles from countries within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are calculated when they are brought into Russia. A relevant government decree came into force on April 1, reshaping the calculation and allocation of taxes and duties that had previously been avoided by underreporting the customs value for cars originating from EAEU member states. Those previously unpaid duties will now be partially absorbed by the recycling fee, ensuring that the financial burden is accounted for within the broader lifecycle costs of vehicle ownership. For individuals and companies that import vehicles directly through Russia’s customs channels, there is no change in the process or the outcome under this decree.
Another notable development is that the customs clearance for electric motor vehicles from EAEU countries now must occur within Russia itself. This consolidation of the clearance process is aimed at improving oversight, streamlining duties, and reducing cross-border delays, while aligning with the broader regulatory framework governing imports from bloc member states.
Earlier reports had suggested that foreign car prices could rise by as much as 30 to 40 percent due to these new customs clearance rules. The evolving policy landscape thus promises a meaningful shift in pricing, availability, and the practical considerations of owning an electric or hybrid vehicle sourced from beyond traditional official channels. Buyers, sellers, and policymakers alike will be watching closely how these adjustments influence market behavior, dealership strategies, and consumer choices in the near term.
In summary, the new regime tightens how gray-market EVs are valued and taxed, reinforces regulatory oversight of cross-border imports within the EAEU, and centralizes the clearance process in Russia. The combined effect is a potential uptick in total vehicle costs for some buyers, paired with a more uniform application of recycling fees and duties as the system moves toward greater, if slower, transparency in the EV market.