The committee rejected the opposition’s alternative draft, which proposed maintaining the current excise rate for importing passenger cars aged 0 to 10 years, while applying the 4.5 GEL tariff only to vehicles older than 10 years.

At the same time, the committee approved, in its second reading, a draft prepared by MPs from the Georgian Dream faction. According to this proposal, the excise rate for vehicles aged 0 to 6 years will be set at 1.5 GEL per 1 cm³ of engine capacity, while for vehicles older than 6 years, the rate will be 4.5 GEL per 1 cm³.

The alternative legislative proposal was presented to the committee by Vika Filfani, a member of the For Georgia faction. According to the initiator, the ruling party’s proposal does not take into account the current social conditions and makes cars less affordable for citizens. Filfani argued that if the concern is emissions-related damage, vehicles produced in 2017 under Euro 6 standards are as environmentally safe as those manufactured in 2025.

However, Irakli Kheladze, a member of the Georgian Dream faction and rapporteur of the majority’s draft, did not agree with this argument. He stated that lower customs tariffs encourage the import of outdated vehicles, which the government is trying to change. According to him, this is a significant challenge from both environmental and public health perspectives and is costly for the state.

“We want to stimulate the import of electric and hybrid vehicles,” Kheladze said.

The draft law on car customs clearance, which significantly increases fees for vehicles older than six years, is being considered by the Parliament of Georgia today in the second and third readings under an expedited procedure.

The alternative proposal by the For Georgia faction will also be presented at the plenary session.