Recently, many networked Ukrainian resources are again actively discussing the fate of non-cleared European cars, which have a predominantly Lithuanian "residence permit". Some sources reported that the customs department of Lithuania began checking the legality of export schemes for these vehicles, allegedly with the participation of the relevant Ukrainian department. However, such information is not confirmed until now. Most likely it's only the voice of the "wants" of Ukrainian automakers and the way on their part to trace the reaction of citizens who have such cars in Ukraine. Nominally, in most cases, the drivers of these cars are not their owners, but they operate the car by proxy or are listed as an employee in a Lithuanian firm on which such a car is issued. However, the cases with the design of the "worker" at the moment are less. Over the past few years, the country has imported the above schemes to several hundred thousand used cars from Europe. In the current year - more than 50 thousand. First of all, this indicates that Ukrainians prefer a new car of domestic production to a second-hand European car of a higher class. And in the current economic conditions, it is difficult to blame them for wanting to spend savings in this way. Especially when in the eyes of ordinary citizens the picture is simple - the state protects the interests of actually inactive domestic producers with taxes and import duties. And this is in a country where the average salary is several times less than in European countries, and second-hand cars are paradoxically worth several times more expensive. This situation can not suit Ukrainian automakers, but it does not make them significantly improve the quality of assembly, diversify the range and reduce prices for existing models. At this stage, the problem is also that there are a lot of such cars - according to unofficial statistics, their number may already be over one million. Even assume that the very 59 thousand "fleeing" from the Lithuanian registration and withdraw, then the rest of the mass will need to do something. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the fact that a large number of such cars are imported to territories beyond Ukraine's control. Accordingly, the state sooner or later will have to solve this problem. The most likely are two scenarios. The first - by any means to prevent the import and exploitation of non-cleared cars into the country. However, as practice shows, this has already failed. The next step may be attempts to mass-scale such vehicles from "owners", which may lead to an increase in already high social tension.

The second scenario assumes simultaneous liberalization of customs duties for European cars with tightening of sanctions for delay. Thus, it is possible to create a situation where it is easier and cheaper for a citizen to clear a car than to be exposed to the risk of imposing serious penalties. There is also a third option. And it consists in the fact that the state can leave everything on its own. Maxim Parkhomenko, analyst of Alpari.

Original article: Maxim Parkhomenko: auto on Lithuanian numbers in Ukraine. Is there a solution?.