The Armenian government has decided to increase the duty-free import quota for electric vehicles. This decision was announced on October 8 after the initial quota of 7,400 vehicles was fully utilized by October 1 of this year.
Under the new proposal, the quota will be expanded by 600 units by the end of the year. This increase is intended for importers operating under dealership and distributorship agreements. Interestingly, the majority of electric vehicle imports—around 72%—were carried out by private individuals.
Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia's Prime Minister, noted the unprecedented nature of the current situation, as it is the first time the electric vehicle import quota has been completely exhausted. He explained that after the quota limit is reached, importers will face the obligation to pay customs duties but will still be exempt from VAT, allowing for some continued benefits.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan highlighted that Armenia is one of the leading countries in creating favorable conditions for electric vehicle imports. However, he expressed concern about potential challenges in maintaining this preferential regime within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the long term.
These concerns stem from the fact that other EAEU member states plan to develop their own electric vehicle production, which could impact the current import policies in the region.
