How waste collection became the main component in the cost of a car

Thus, the head of the Ministry of Industry told the senators that the utilization fee introduced in 2012 during its application proved to be effective as a protective measure for the domestic automotive industry. This happened, according to Anton Alikhanov "in conditions of the risk of high dumping by foreign automakers." After the introduction of waste collection, "this mechanism made it possible to develop its own car production," the minister said.

At this point, perhaps one of the members of the Federation Council mentally continued the speech of the head of the Ministry of Industry. Probably even thought that Alikhanov's next phrase would be a proposal to cancel the waste collection. This is normal: the Russian auto industry has grown stronger over 12 years of continuous waste collection, pumped hydraulic muscles, and prices for consumers must be reduced at least sometimes.

But, no - the mistake came out. Due to its effectiveness, the waste collection on cars will be increased again. Moreover, another category of cars will fall under it - up to 160 hp and above, "imported by Russians for their own needs." If you believe the head of the ministry literally, then cars from car dealerships should not fall under this next increase. Car dealerships do not operate cars for their own needs, but are engaged in their implementation. However, intuition suggests that not everything is so literal. What the Ministry of Industry and Trade will really do, we still have to find out.

Recall that now individuals when importing cars from abroad for personal use pay a completely symbolic waste collection of 3.4 thousand rubles for a car under three years old and 5.2 thousand rubles for a car of an older age. These payments are independent of the actual cost of the machine and engine power.

For other importers, rates have recently increased significantly. As a result of another increase in waste collection, since October 2024, the amount has risen by 75-80 percent and now starts at 180 thousand rubles. For powerful cars, and 160 "horses," as a rule, produce an engine with a volume of 2 liters or more, the fee is 1.875 million rubles under the age of three and 2.8 million rubles if the car is older. Such power, however, also happens in modern engines with a volume of 1.6 liters. Cars of this category fall under the waste collection of 667 thousand rubles and 1.174 million rubles, respectively.

The Russian government in this case does not hide: the collection for the disposal of cars was invented in order to complicate the sale of foreign cars in Russia and create comfortable conditions for AvtoVAZ. Does AvtoVAZ fail to stamp its own cars without greenhouse conditions?

Meanwhile, the situation around the consequences of the introduction of waste collection is not quite as cloudless as the head of the Ministry of Industry Anton Alikhanov told the senators. Firstly, the size of the waste collection does not correlate at all with the real cost of recycling the car. By the way, did anyone accidentally meet in Russia, on the way of life, landfills for the disposal of cars? There is no forest of hands in sight.

This is because waste collection has become, in fact, a by-law tax on car owners, while in reality there is no organized disposal of cars? Utilsbor is a way to replenish the treasury not in a direct way, but in vegetable gardens. Before the new tax, it has the advantage that waste collection does not need to be carried out through the State Duma. There is no need, in particular, to change the Tax Code and answer many uncomfortable questions. For example: how economically justified is the need for another financial know-how and how it will further affect social stability in society.

Secondly, the harsh reality completely refutes the minister's words about the beneficial effect of ulilsbora on the Russian auto industry. In 2025, domestic cars became the champions in the fall in sales: 29.3 percent. But after all, strictly for the sake of supporting the original domestic automotive industry, waste collection was introduced in 2012 and has since been regularly increasing with increasing dynamics.

Following the example of Vasilisa Mikulishna, I would like to ask - "Where is the tribute for twelve years"? It is completely incomprehensible: where, for what purposes and with what specific result the billions of dollars in waste collection went. Probably the same where landfills for disposal.

However, unlike money and landfills, the numbers are obvious: domestic factories, according to Rosstat, reduced the production of cars in January-May 2025 by 18.5 percent, trucks - by 20.1 percent, buses weighing over 5 tons - by 39.6 percent. In general, the automotive market collapsed in January-May by 26 percent, and this trend only grew in June.

The leader of the Russian auto industry AvtoVAZ, in general, is tired of floundering like a frog in sour cream and plans to reduce car production by 25-30 percent in 2025. Although the Russian brand Lada still dominates the market, its sales share in June accounted for about 27 percent of the market, and in quantitative terms - 24,165 copies sold.

Let's consider the dynamics of demand for other models. According to the analytical agency Avtostat, a total of 90,116 new cars were sold in Russia last month. This is 27.6 percent less than in June 2024.

The leadership among foreign cars is occupied by the Chinese crossover Haval. This model sold 9172 cars. Chery is on the third line - 8858 units have been sold. Next on the pedestal is Changan - 6388 cars. Geely sold 6165 cars.

The sixth place is occupied by the Belarusian Belgee with an indicator of 4074 cars. It is followed by the Chinese Jetour - 3138 cars, the domestic Solaris - 2201 cars, as well as the Chinese Omoda and GAC. These brands sold 1974 and 1845 cars, respectively.

Seven out of ten leading brands showed negative sales dynamics in June. The most disastrous month was for the Omoda model: it lost 61.3 percent. Three brands showed growth, among which the Solaris brand had the best result - plus 55.9 percent of sales.

In total, according to the results of the first half of 2025, 530,375 new passenger cars were sold in the Russian Federation. This is 26.3 percent less than in the six months of 2024.

The results are expected. A recent study of the Авто.ру service and the hh.ru platform showed that in June-July, a Russian needs 14 median salaries to buy a used Lada Vesta, and more than 17 salaries for a used Hyundai Solaris. Accordingly, consumer demand as an investment resource that could stabilize the automotive market has declined sharply.

The economic consequences are obvious: a drop in car sales, a reduction in the sale of motor fuel - gasoline and diesel, a curtailment of car service services and further a decrease in tax deductions for all cooperation chains.

This enchanting failure in the documents of the Ministry of Industry, in some mysterious way, like a ray of light in a prism, was refracted into evidence of the effectiveness of the collection for the disposal of cars. Moreover, the "easy money" from the waste collection inspired Anton Alikhanov so much that the minister suggested that the Federation Council support the idea of ​ ​ industrial collection for electronics. Ok, we take out scores and nonsense from the pantries: we are not waiting, but preparing?