The sale of new vehicles in Serbia increased by 10% compared to the previous year, marking the best result in the past five years. However, car importers have pointed out the alarming fact that twice as many cars with Euro 3 and 4 engines were sold as compared to new vehicles.
While electric vehicle sales are reaching record numbers worldwide, in Serbia, despite government subsidies, electric cars accounted for only 1% of the total vehicle sales last year. The average price of used cars in Serbia also rose by 4.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
“We achieved a good business result, with 27,862 new passenger vehicles sold, which is a 10% increase compared to 2023. As for light commercial vehicles, we saw a slightly higher growth of 18%. An interesting fact is that this number exceeds that from 2019,” said Boris Ćorović, General Secretary of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.
Subsidy applications now open
Applications for subsidies for purchasing new electric vehicles will be accepted until the end of October. Depending on the type of vehicle, subsidies range from 250 to 5,000 euros.
Both citizens, entrepreneurs, and companies can apply for the subsidies.
Alexandra Đurđević, President of the Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers, emphasized the importance of improving the electric vehicle sector.
“If we compare it to statistics from Europe, where the share is already over 13%, we are still below 1%. We are aware that we are lagging behind,” said Đurđević.
Around 135,000 used cars were imported into Serbia last year, of which 58,000 were Euro 3 and Euro 4 standard cars—manufactured between 2000 and 2010. Experts agree that the situation is alarming both from an environmental and safety perspective.
“As for lawmakers, they are still slow and allow the import of outdated, ecologically unsuitable vehicles. It is expected that they will soon turn to more modern approaches to understanding the automotive industry and the creation of a healthier national vehicle fleet,” said Miodrag Piroški, author of the show “Hot Tires.”
Boris Ćorović, General Secretary of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers, points out that in countries like Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia, the minimum standard is Euro 5, with cars from 2010 and later.
It is inevitable that in the region, buying a used car remains an alternative for many people who want to save money, as the price of these vehicles is significantly lower. Experts emphasize that it is important to consider not only the price but also the car’s condition, mileage, and other factors.
“I must say that the car industry has been in crisis since the pandemic. They have exploited this crisis to artificially increase car prices, so today we have an average car that is 60 to 80 percent more expensive, and maybe even 100 percent more expensive than it was seven or eight years ago,” said Piroški.
Although there was a 10% increase in new car sales last year, the final score indicates that 17% of the cars sold were new, while 83% were used. The most concerning fact is that a significant percentage of the vehicles sold still have Euro 3 and Euro 4 engines, which are considered environmentally unacceptable in many parts of the world.
