Car imports to Uzbekistan surge following closure of Piskent testing ground

According to the Customs Committee’s monthly report, in September 2025 Uzbekistan imported 14,171 passenger cars worth $167.1 million. For comparison, during the same period last year, 6,355 passenger cars worth $74.2 million were imported. Thus, the country saw car imports more than double both in value and in volume.

The steepest growth was seen in electric car imports – a 3.5-fold increase. Gasoline car imports rose by 48 percent, while hybrid car imports fell significantly – down 5.8 times compared to the previous year.

The sharp rise in car imports last month coincided with the suspension of the practice of testing imported vehicles at the Piskent automotive proving ground. Until recently, vehicles that had physically entered Uzbekistan but were not yet officially registered as “imports” could have faced delays due to mandatory technical inspections in Piskent.

It is likely that the cancellation of these procedures accelerated the formal entry of previously imported vehicles into the country.

To recall, starting from November 1, 2024, imported cars had been required to undergo technical testing at the Piskent proving ground instead of within the customs zone. Moreover, tests for electromagnetic compatibility were introduced for cars imported by individuals or private entrepreneurs. However, as the testing ground’s capacity was several times smaller than the actual demand, it had been significantly restricting the volume of car imports into the country.