The Transport Minister has stated that car importers and the Road Transport Department (RTD) bear responsibility for faulty airbags, an issue that has concerned authorities worldwide since the 1990s.
Vehicle recalls have been a state concern since 2010, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades told the parliamentary Commerce Committee.
Speaking at the committee meeting, Vafeades explained Cyprus faces a unique situation.
He clarified that whilst manufacturers bear primary responsibility and must inform distributors, who then must alert vehicle owners as per 2022 agreements, the RTD will intervene if distributors cannot locate owners.
The department can impose restrictions through technical inspections, even after two years.
The minister highlighted particular concerns about “grey imports” from third countries.
“Once a vehicle leaves Japan, the manufacturer abroad loses track of its location”, he said, adding that local distributors may have no connection to third-country imports.
According to Vafeades, 60% of car registrations in Cyprus are third-country imports.
The information chain has been broken and requires restoration. The RTD has identified issues including delayed citizen notifications and spare parts shortages.
The department has requested distributors share official web links where citizens can check for recalls.
While this will not completely resolve the issue, it aims to address the information gap. The RTD has also distributed lists of affected vehicles to distributors, though 50% failed to respond within a week.
The minister announced that once distributors receive recall notices, the RTD will immediately message affected owners. Vehicle owners will be reminded to update their details during technical inspections.
The department is considering legislative changes requiring proof of no pending recalls for vehicle registration in Cyprus.
It is also studying amendments to technical inspection centre regulations, though Vafeades acknowledged third-country importers might struggle to obtain necessary certifications.
If continuous citizen updates prove impossible, the RTD has proposed two options: either allowing third-country vehicle imports only under conditions ensuring information flow, or informing all third-country vehicle owners in Cyprus of the risks of broken information chains.
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