AZE.US
Despite steady growth in the number of vehicles on the road, Azerbaijan’s car fleet remains overwhelmingly old, according to official statistics.
The total number of passenger cars in the country increased by approximately 90,000 over the past year, reaching 1,676,080 vehicles. However, data from the State Statistics Committee show that nearly 83% of all registered cars are more than 10 years old. More than 735,000 vehicles are over 20 years old.
The figures suggest that while ownership is expanding, structural renewal of the fleet is progressing slowly.
Analysts point to several factors behind the aging vehicle base. One major reason is limited development of public transportation. Experts argue that without a reliable and efficient alternative, households remain dependent on private cars, even if those vehicles are old.
Import structure and pricing also play a central role. Azerbaijan’s car market is heavily dependent on imports, and customs duties significantly affect retail prices. In recent years, the government introduced tax incentives and customs preferences for electric and hybrid vehicles, which shifted the composition of imports.
According to 2025 data, the majority of newly imported vehicles were brand-new cars, a reversal from previous years when the market was dominated by used cars aged seven to eight years. Market observers attribute this shift to preferential treatment for environmentally friendly models.
Still, the broader fleet remains dominated by older vehicles, meaning that incremental gains from new imports have not yet substantially reduced the average age of cars on the road.
Experts say continued incentives for low-emission vehicles, along with expanded investment in public transport infrastructure, would be necessary to accelerate modernization. Without structural changes, overall vehicle numbers may continue to rise – but the fleet’s age profile could remain largely unchanged.