Copart, a leading online re-marketer of vehicles, announced
that, while the Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) will
begin to implement new regulations for auto imports, Copart has received
assurances that ESMA does not plan to ban the import of all used or damaged
vehicles.
Copart sells more than 2 million vehicles per year globally
with 180 facilities around the world. A significant number of its vehicles are
imported to the UAE, which has a thriving vehicle trading industry. The market
has grown very large in scale, and the need to ensure correct quality of
vehicles is important. Copart plans to work with ESMA to clarify whether new
regulations would improve safety and quality while limiting the economic impact
on traders.
Copart noted that ESMA aims to ensure that only vehicles
deemed safe can be registered, make sure vehicles imported for the sole purpose
of re-export will not be affected, and classify vehicles into clear categories
that will help consumers choose from available inventory. Additionally, it
wants to provide a platform for local consumers to check online to see if a
certain vehicle can be registered in the UAE or not.
