Problems of automobiles in Georgia

Georgia has become the market for second-hand cars. They represent a substantial part of Georgia’s import as well as re-export because the country provides Armenia, Azerbaijan, as well as the Central Asian countries with cars. Most of the cars running in Georgia are second-hand goods imported from Japan, Korea, the US and Europe. The cars were not technically checked for the last several years, while from January 2014, the technical inspection will be restored. Experts consider that most of the cars in Georgia are old and they do not fit the accepted world standards. At the moment more than 800 000 automobiles are registered in Georgia; 80% of which are over 20 years old, and it is unlikely that they will receive technical confirmation. Every year around 60, 000 cars are sold in the country, out of which only 10% are new cars. There is a proposal to restrict importing the cars which are more than 15 years old. Some analysts predict that such restrictions will be followed by the protest of the drivers because they cannot afford to buy new cars.