Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan has increased production of cars more than fivefold.

The country produced 1771 passenger cars in eight months of this year, which is 5.4 times higher than in the same period of 2013, the State Statistics Committee reported.

In 2013, 424 cars were produced in Azerbaijan, which was 21.8 percent less than at the same period in 2012.

The report shows in January-August, Azerbaijan produced 180 trucks, which is 22.4 percent surpasses the same period last year.

In 2013, Azerbaijan produced 246 trucks, which is 52.8 percent more than in 2012.

Moreover, production of tractors has also increased this year. The country produced 874 tractors, which is two times higher than in the same period of 2013.

In 2013, Azerbaijan produced 739 tractors, which is 19.6 percent more than in 2012.

There are two factories for the production of motor vehicles in the country located in Nakhchivan and Ganja.

At the same time, import of cars has decreased in Azerbaijan. In January-August, Azerbaijan imported 43,276 vehicles versus 67,226 in the same period of last year, the Statistic Committee said.

Import of cars to the country started to fall after Azerbaijan shifted to the Euro-4 ecological standard in April.

Thus, only cars produced in the EU since 2005, in the U.S. since in 2004, in China and Japan since 2011, in Korea since 2006, and in Turkey since 2009 can be imported to the country since April 1.

Some 39,198 vehicles, out of those imported to the country in this period, were the cars and motor vehicles designed for passenger transportation. In January-August 2013, this figure was 60,924.

In total, Azerbaijan imported 104,385 cars in 2013, and 101,255 in 2012. At present, experts predicts, the number of imported cars will be reduced by about 20 percent to 75,000 units in 2014.

Some 94,879 cars out of the imported ones were the cars and motor vehicles designed to transport passengers.

During the reporting period, the country also imported 3,575 trucks compared to 5,060 trucks in January-August, 2013. In 2013, Azerbaijan imported 7,823 trucks versus 9,433 in 2012.