Initiative of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers

Initiative of the Serbian Association of New Vehicle and Parts Importers

New mobility requires new legal regulations and provisions. The development of new technologies is extremely fast, and it is therefore essential that the competent state authorities promptly recognize changes in the transport of people and goods, respond accordingly, and enact regulations that will enable progress and ensure safety.

Currently, in practice, a situation has arisen where drivers with a Category B license are not allowed to drive electric delivery vehicles—vans which, due to the weight of the battery, now exceed the maximum permitted weight of 3,500 kilograms. According to existing regulations, drivers would have to obtain a C1 license, which would negatively affect transport, slow down the electrification of the vehicle fleet, and have an adverse impact on both the environment and the economy in general.

Recognizing this emerging issue, and in line with changes to EU legal regulations, the Serbian Association of New Vehicle and Parts Importers has submitted an initiative to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce to harmonize Article 195 of the new Road Traffic Safety Law of Serbia (ZOBS).

Why was the initiative submitted and what does it refer to?

The Serbian Association of New Vehicle and Parts Importers submitted this initiative to align domestic regulations with current legislative trends in the European Union. These trends refer to allowing certain vehicle categories, with a maximum permitted mass exceeding 3,500 kg, to be operated with a Category B driver’s license—specifically, category N1 vehicles with a maximum weight of up to 4,250 kg if they are electrically powered (with a battery).

Namely, on February 28, 2024, the European Parliament adopted a Proposal for a Directive on Driving Licenses (COM/2024/0127), allowing EU member states to permit the operation of light commercial electric vehicles (category N1) with a Category B license, even if their maximum authorized mass exceeds 3,500 kg—up to a limit of 4,250 kg. This amendment aims to promote broader use of electric delivery vehicles in urban environments and to allow their operation without the need for a C1 license.

"Although the Republic of Serbia is not a member of the European Union, we believe that timely recognition and adoption of such solutions would be beneficial for our transport and logistics sector, as well as for accelerating the electrification of the vehicle fleet. Such an amendment would encourage the introduction and use of electric vehicles in our market, and would be especially beneficial to small and medium-sized enterprises in the urban distribution segment," the initiative by the Serbian Association of New Vehicle and Parts Importers states.

Given that the Association is aware that a completely new Road Traffic Safety Law is being drafted, it proposed that Item 6 of the current Article 195 be formulated as follows:

"B – Motor vehicles, except for those in categories A, A1, A2, AM, F, and M, whose maximum authorized mass does not exceed 3,500 kg and which do not have more than eight seats excluding the driver’s seat, except for vehicles with electric propulsion (battery-powered) whose maximum authorized mass does not exceed 4,250 kg."

The Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers was founded 29 years ago. It includes 32 members who represent 75 brands in Serbia. From day one, the Association has consistently pursued its goals: initiating, monitoring, and improving regulations in the automotive industry, supporting members to enhance business performance, organizing events, educating, and informing the public.