Oman The new instructions recently issued by the Jordanian government regarding the import of electric cars into the country caused an uproar among the street in general, and investors and car dealers in particular.
The new instructions aim to ensure that electric cars that will enter Jordan conform to European and American specifications and standards, and to prohibit the import of any vehicle that does not meet these specifications.
The new instructions mean stopping the import of non-European or American electric vehicles, and restricting imports to electric vehicles of European and American origin.
The Jordanian Standards and Metrology Institution said that the new instructions aim to maintain the safety and security of use of this type of car and protect the rights of consumers, in light of the increasing demand for them, as certificates of conformity will be requested to guarantee the safety of electric cars.
She explained that “the certificates required to allow the introduction of electric vehicles in accordance with the instructions are the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval certificate or the “Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards | FMVSS” certificate, which provide a mechanism to ensure that vehicles meet environmental standards. and the required safety and security.”
Unfair instructions
The matter aroused dissatisfaction with the agents and dealers of these cars in Jordan, especially those working in the free zone, who focus their work on importing Chinese cars, which are in great demand among citizens due to their reasonable prices that are compatible with their capabilities and financial capabilities.
The government justification also did not convince investors and electric car dealers, as well as Jordanian citizens who were shocked by the issuance of these “unjust” and “unjust” instructions – as they put it – which will ultimately lead to a significant increase in the prices of electric vehicles that is beyond the ability of the average Jordanian citizen to afford. the purchase.
In this context, Jihad Abu Nasser, a member of the Free Zones Investors Authority in Jordan, said in exclusive statements to Al Jazeera Net: “What the Standards and Metrology Organization says has no relation to reality because Chinese electric cars have very high safety specifications, comparable to European and American specifications.” And it often exceeds it, especially in terms of public safety and security.”
Abu Nasser believes that “the aim of these instructions is to exclude and prevent free zones and investors working in these areas from importing electric cars in general, and to limit the import of these vehicles to the official agents of the brand.”
a surprise
For his part, Jordanian investor Muhammad Khattab said in a comment to Al Jazeera Net: “The new instructions were shocking and surprising to us as investors because they close the door to the import of electric cars from various countries of the world, and limit them to European and American cars only.”
He added: “As investors, we created new investments, spent huge sums of money, prepared infrastructure, prepared storage warehouses, opened car showrooms, and charging stations that cost a lot of money, and we have contracts to import cars and spare parts from China. Then came this shocking and sudden decision that was not taken into account. None of us will be able to import new cars (zero meters) from Europe except exclusive agents only, and from my point of view, this decision is systematic and based on stopping the import of all electric cars except for some agents only, and this decision comes in the interest of these agents alone and not others.”
Trade war
Khattab believed that the new instructions are intended to stop the import of Chinese electric cars, which constitute the vast majority of electric vehicles imported to Jordan, and which Jordanian citizens are willing to purchase because of their cheap price compared to the high-priced European and American electric cars, which the average Jordanian citizen cannot afford.
This indicates, according to investor Walid Al-Hait in comments to Al Jazeera Net, that the new instructions do not prevent the import of Chinese gasoline and hybrid cars (fuel-powered and electric), “which in itself is a stark contradiction,” he said.
Al-Hait says: “A car that does not contain an internal combustion engine is lower in terms of security and safety specifications than cars that contain an internal combustion generator. However, the import of hybrid and gasoline cars of Chinese origin, which are not in demand in Jordan, was allowed, while the import of hybrid and gasoline cars of Chinese origin, which are not in demand in Jordan, was prohibited.” Importing new electric cars from China, which are very popular with Jordanians.”
The decision contradicts itself, according to Al-Hayt, as it did not prevent the entry of “salvage” electric cars imported from Europe and America, and prevented the entry of new Chinese cars.
Salvage cars are used cars that have been involved in accidents in their country.
He added: “Importing used electric cars from Europe and America, whether they were involved in accidents in their country, or were normally used cars, and supplying them to Jordan, means that the market becomes a dumping ground for used European and American cars.”
Al-Hait believes that this decision falls within the trade war launched by Western countries, led by America, against China, while Jordan is supposed to be outside this context, saying: “We are a consumer country, and we do not have major resources to reject the qualification of the second largest economy in the world.”
Jihad Abu Nasser confirms this point by saying: “It is clear that the instructions are intended to prevent the import of Chinese electric cars specifically, because the instructions excluded hybrid cars and gasoline cars, which were being discussed among all relevant authorities, including the Jordanian Standards and Metrology Institution, and the Chinese standard was excluded when the instructions were issued.” “Focusing on European and American specifications only.”
‘Devastating effects’
Regarding the effects of these instructions on the electric car market in Jordan, Abu Nasser says: “Any investor who invested in the electric car sector will stop working completely, and will be forced to close his investment, or switch to importing another type of car, and thus there will be significant and tangible financial damage.” “And strong losses for investors in the electric car sector in Jordan, especially new ones.”
For his part, Al-Hait believes that “the new instructions will lead to many investors withdrawing their investments in this sector from Jordan, especially since many of these investors were planning to pump more money and attract more foreign investments to work in this vital sector, which we saw as the future.” The next automobile market in the country.
The decision will lead to a huge increase in the prices of electric cars, by no less than 50%, according to Abu Nasser, due to the high prices of European and American cars compared to the prices of Chinese electric cars.
According to Al-Hayt, there are indirect damages that will affect many support sectors, such as guarantee centers, which will be greatly affected as a result of the new decision and instructions. According to a law that was previously legislated and stipulated the necessity of a warranty from an approved center, and within certain conditions that were set for new electric cars entering the market, which led to the establishment of a market for electric car dealerships, and huge sums of money were invested in this market, and now these centers will completely stop. Completely or partially suspended from work.
The damage will also affect charging station owners who spent a lot of money to build approved charging outlets. The focus was on building charging outlets for Chinese cars due to their wide spread in Jordan. With the new decision, these outlets will become out of service as a result of restricting imports to European cars. It has different charging ports than Chinese vehicles, according to Al-Hayt.
Find a solution
The Jordanian electric vehicle market is currently living in a state of confusion, anxiety, and instability as a result of the new instructions, and investors and citizens alike are demanding a solution to this new dilemma that was not expected.
Jihad Abu Nasser believes that the solution lies in establishing a technical rule for any electric vehicle entering the country, regardless of the manufacturer. This technical rule stipulates special requirements for public safety that govern all cars, and in this way there will be justice. Any car that is imported from any origin enters the country if Jordanian technical rules applied to it, instead of excluding the world’s auto giant and allowing only cars that meet European specifications.
