In line with a presidential directive, government ministries and agencies in Uzbekistan are phasing out Mercedes-Benz service vehicles. Kun.uz reached out to national-level government organizations to find out what alternative vehicles senior officials are now using.
On March 5, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to drastically reduce the use of official vehicles and transition to domestically produced cars and furniture. Following this directive, officials have begun using vehicles sold by local manufacturers for official purposes.
For instance, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov has switched from Mercedes-Benz to Chevrolet Malibu. His deputies have also adopted the Malibu, while regional governors are now using Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Traverse models.
On March 7, Abdulla Aripov held a meeting where he instructed all officials to discontinue the use of foreign service vehicles.
Kun.uz contacted government press services to determine what specific models ministers and equivalent-ranking officials have switched to:
- Minister of Defense Major General Shuhrat Khulmukhamedov uses a Trailblazer, which was assigned to him when he served as First Deputy Minister. Additionally, he has an Isuzu D-Max pickup for use in training grounds.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov and his deputies were already using Malibu before the directive and continue to do so.
- All senior officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs now drive Malibu, according to the ministry’s press service.
- Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Kungiratbay Sharipov, who previously used a Mercedes-Benz, currently does not use a service vehicle. His previous car is in the process of being handed over to state assets, and he is expected to receive a Malibu as a replacement.
- Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov, who previously used an S-Class Mercedes, now drives a
