By Dushanbe mayor’s decree all taxi companies operating in the city are required to shift completely to electric vehicles by September 1, 2025. 

Challenges faced by taxi drivers

The main obstacle for many taxi drivers in making shift to electric vehicles is obtaining loans.  Some drivers cannot take out new loans because they have not yet paid off their old vehicles, while others are concerned that they will not be able to sell their current cars at a reasonable price to afford an electric vehicle.

Alif Bank offers car loans at 28 percent in the national currency, the somoni, and at 15 percent in dollars, with a term of up to 5 years.  Eskhata Bank offers car loans at an annual rate of 22 percent for a term of up to 60 months.

Drivers’ perspectives

Asia-Plus, after speaking with several drivers, found that many taxi drivers plan to start operating in the regions as private drivers if they cannot switch to electric cars.  However, not all drivers intend to continue working; some have already decided to look for new employment.

A decision by the Majlisi Namoyandgon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) in 2022 exempts the import of electric vehicles from taxes and customs duties for a period of 10 years.

There is still time until 2025

Asia-Plus also contacted taxi companies to find out if they would be able to shift to “green” vehicles by September 2025.

There are 12 companies operating in the Dushanbe market.  

Asia-Plus approached several taxi companies for comments, but most declined to provide any. Only two companies agreed to speak.

Ruslan Sarbozzoda, a marketer for YAK Taxi, said the company’s fleet now has more than 2,000 cars in total, with 60 percent of them being electric vehicles.

Atlas Taxi’s fleet now includes 140 vehicles, 80 of which are electric vehicles.  The company's top manager, Ms. Tahmina Bakhronova, stated that they have been working towards this goal for two years since the Dushanbe mayor signed the 2023-2026 environmental transport transition plan on June 5, 2022.  Initially, electric cars were more expensive, but now prices are decreasing and becoming more affordable.

Prospects and future plans

Ms. Bakhronova mentioned that their company will be able to shift to electric vehicles by the deadline.  Those drivers who do not want or cannot make the switch will be able to work as taxi drivers in the regions, in Roudaki and Hisor districts, or other nearby districts where the taxi industry is also developed.

In conclusion, while there are significant challenges for individual drivers in securing financing for electric vehicles, the overall trajectory and support measures, such as tax exemptions and decreasing vehicle costs, suggest that the taxi companies in Dushanbe are on track to meet the 2025 deadline.

             Recall, an official source within the Dushanbe Administration told Asia-Plus in late June that more than 4350 taxi cabs, with 2,450 of them being electric cars, have plied on Dushanbe streets as of June 1, 2024. 

136 charging stations for electric vehicles have reportedly been established in Dushanbe as of June 6 this year. 

Earlier it had been reported that about 230 million somonis (US$21 million) will be allocated within the next five years for development of electric transport in the country.  Of this amount, 1.4 million somonis will be allocated from the national budget, 6.2 million somonis will be provided by development partners, and more than 221 million somonis will be provided by the private sector

In Tajikistan, mostly old foreign cars are in operation and their emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution.  According to experts, gradually filling the country with electric cars could reduce air pollution.  

The gradual increase in electricity generation in Tajikistan reportedly allows increasing the number of electricity-powered vehicles in Tajikistan.  Tajik officials say this will reduce the country's dependence on oil-exporting countries.