“We support the free market” – Competition Committee speaks about restricting BYD imports

Deputy Chairman of the Competition Committee Asadulla Kayumov answered the question asked at a press conference on March 20.

“The resolution mandates that a proposal be made on the basis of current competition law and the norms of the World Trade Organization. We will study this situation and, of course, give our proposals,” Kayumov said.

According to him, in 2023, the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights received 957 consumer appeals related to the sale of cars, of which 754 appeals (78.7%) were satisfied, and clarifications were given for 140. In total, a recalculation was made for more than 4 billion soums, 60 cars were replaced due to inadequate quality. Asadulla Kayumov said that the bulk of requests on this matter are related to the delivery time of cars and defective cars.

“We support the free market. Our main task is to create conditions for delivering products to consumers at the most competitive prices and with the most optimal quality. From this point of view, we will prepare our proposals to the government to protect consumer rights and create an optimal competitive environment in the car market at reasonable prices and acceptable quality,” the deputy chairman of the committee said.

The Chinese company BYD, which is starting the production of electric and hybrid cars in Uzbekistan together with Uzavtosanoat, appealed to the government with a request to limit the “irregular import” of cars under the BYD brand into Uzbekistan.

According to the presidential decree, signed on March 18, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and Uzavtosanoat JSC were ordered to submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers by July 1 to regulate the import of electric and hybrid cars under the BYD brand based on the principles of competition law and World Trade organizations.