How will the introduction of EURO-5 affect the import and production of cars in Ukraine

Anna Tkach

AutoPortal editorial team

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Since January 1 of this year, Euro-5 has come into effect in Ukraine, and in two years – from 01.01.2018 – Euro-6 will come into force.

How will the transition to new Euro environmental standards affect ordinary drivers? Today, during a press conference organized by the All-Ukrainian Association of Automobile Importers and Dealers (UAAID), market representatives spoke about the upcoming changes.

According to UAAID, first of all, this will lead to another increase in car prices (by 3–5%) and their maintenance (by 5–10%), since more modern cars are more complex to produce and require more expensive service. In addition:

- Some budget models of Euro-4 level, which were created exclusively for developing country markets and do not have versions with Euro-5 engines, will disappear from the shelves.

- The import of used cars that do not meet Euro-5 requirements, i.e., cars older than five years (the Euro-5 standard came into force in the European Union at the end of 2009), will be banned.

- Difficulties are expected in the operation of cars related to fuel quality: current fuel standards in Ukraine correspond only to Euro-3, while cars must meet Euro-5.

- In addition, as part of the certification system reform, the rules for accreditation of certification centers and testing laboratories will change, and control over the quality of their work will be tightened. For example, until recently, at least a third of used cars imported into the country were registered with violations of current environmental standards due to serious errors in the work of a number of such centers and laboratories.

UAAID, together with its members, as well as the National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine (NAAU) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, which issue accreditations to certification centers and laboratories, has already carried out preliminary work to prevent systematic violators of environmental legislation from operating from 2016.

UAAID recommends that motorists be careful when buying imported used cars. With a 99% probability, cars with a VIN code indicating production before 2010, imported into Ukraine after 01.01.2016, do not meet Euro-5 standards. If cars cleared through customs in violation of current environmental requirements are found on Ukrainian roads, they may be seized and their operation prohibited. The association also warns: it is impossible to convert an old car to a higher environmental class in "garage" conditions, and acts on such conversion do not serve as confirmation of an increase in the Euro standard.

Based on materials from the press service of the All-Ukrainian Association of Automobile Importers and Dealers