Russia Considers Restarting a State Car Recycling Program with Old Vehicle Discounts
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is weighing a revival of the state car recycling initiative in Russia. Under the proposal, owners who deliver an old car could receive a discount when purchasing a new vehicle: 150,000 rubles for internal combustion engine cars and between 200,000 and 300,000 rubles for electric cars.
The plan is backed by the Ruslom.com Association. Supporters argue that such a program could boost the appeal of the Russian automotive sector and stimulate scrap metal collection. Critics contend that the proposed discounts would not resolve supply shortages caused by limited domestic production.
Advocates of reintroducing the program point out that with an average budget price range for cars between 700,000 and 1.5 million rubles, a 20 percent discount could act as a meaningful incentive to buy a fresh vehicle. They also believe the policy would help address the issue of auto junk accumulation.
Some industry experts caution that given the current market deficit, awakening demand might not be the top priority for policymakers at this moment.
Historically, the state recycling program remained active in Russia until 2019. During scrapping, discounts on new cars reached 50,000 rubles, while discounts for trucks and buses went up to 350,000 rubles.
- “Behind the Wheel” is now available on RuTube
Source: Izvestia