The parking lot of the Baku Customs Terminal, once so crowded with cars that there was no room to take a step, is now truly empty.
Xazar TV reports that the big "import boom" that lasted until the end of last year has now quieted down. The main reason for this sharp change is the expiration of customs and tax incentives applied to car imports starting from 2026.
Currently, not only individual buyers but even major car dealers are reluctant to bring new vehicles into the country. Economists say that this lull was expected. Because at the end of last year, both companies and citizens seemed to try to meet the demand for the next several years in a short period.
Economist Khalid Kerimli notes that the "incentive boom" that ended at the end of 2025 created an artificial saturation in the market:
"The cancellation of tax incentives for new cars directs buyers' interest towards alternatives again. If previously everyone preferred newer and hybrid models, now a revival in the used car market is forecasted. This, in turn, does not leave prices unaffected."
Automotive sector expert Eldeniz Jafarov has also stated that there are various reasons for the decline in imports. According to the general opinion of experts, 2026 will be remembered as a kind of "adaptation period" for both buyers and sellers. The current stagnation is considered temporary, and import figures are expected to stabilize again starting from 2027.