Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers - Basic Information

The Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers

After thorough consultations and consideration of individual interests, the former Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers has been reorganized. In its new form, it seeks to secure a more favorable status for the automotive sector in our country.

The new business association is now called the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.

Association members include importers of passenger vehicles, motorcycles, parts, and equipment. A statute with a work program has been defined to enable the long-term realization of the association's members' interests and establish a collaborative relationship with the state.

Primary objectives:

One of the fundamental tasks is to monitor and align with tax legislation, eco-taxes, consumer protection laws, and even new vehicle statistics, as market research is a condition for long-term investments.
The next task is to influence the elevation of the education level of people involved in this industry. This includes our staff and damage assessors in insurance companies who haven't undergone specific training. We aim to assist them with norms, as repairing a lower or higher-class automobile is not the same. Contacts with financial institutions are also necessary. If required, we are even willing to bear the cost of education because it contributes to faster claims settlement and the entire cycle from damage to returning the vehicle to traffic.

Tax policy:

The Association's goal is to adapt the tax policy, meaning, for instance, that in the exchange of old for new, tax is paid only on the difference in value from a used to a new car, not the full price of the new car, which is a significant saving for the buyer. We formed the Association not just to criticize laws but to expedite and simplify administrative procedures, facilitate lawmaking, and participate in the creation of laws that affect our business.
Our primary aim is to stimulate sluggish vehicle sales, benefiting the entire country. Tax payments, registration, insurance, tolls – all contribute to the state; some go to insurance companies. Then there's fuel consumption, tire sales, maintenance, and servicing – everyone in that chain has a business interest and benefit, ultimately reflected in a fuller budget and more jobs.

Ecology and environmental protection:

Regarding environmental taxes, the Association advocates for subsidies on hybrids.
The subsidy for purchasing a hybrid vehicle is 1,000 euros, which the buyer pays less, and the state reimburses the seller. This may not be a significant amount, given that car prices range from 15,000 to even 100,000 euros for some hybrid models. In the U.S., the relief figure is even 10,000 euros; in Greece, hybrids are exempt from registration fees, tolls, parking fees, and have the right to enter the center of Athens, regardless of whether it's an odd or even day. Protecting the environment is a priority for all vehicle importers, and we are trying to secure similar benefits.

Equal standing for vehicle and parts importers:

Another goal of the Association is to ensure equal standing for all Association members.

In other words, all imports should be treated the same way, and domestic products should have a different treatment. However, it should be clear what constitutes a domestic product and that it utilizes domestic resources, meaning it has 60% domestic components.

Plan and development of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers:

We have the idea to establish various working groups. The task of these groups is to propose possible changes for legal matters; one group will consider customs regulations and other topics related to the functioning and operation of association members. The Serbian Chamber of Commerce has already responded, and we are already members of some groups. Ultimately, the greatest benefit could be for buyers of new cars in Serbia.