Over Half of Tunisia’s Vehicle Fleet Is Over 15 Years Old, While the Parallel Market Continues to Expand
By Ibrahim Debache, President of the Tunisian Automotive Dealers’ Union
Published: Monday, 23 February 2026
Key Takeaways
- Aging fleet: More than 50 % of vehicles on Tunisian roads are older than 15 years.
- Parallel market surge: In 2025, ≈ 29 000 of the 93 000 newly registered cars (≈ 30 %) entered the market through unofficial channels.
- Official dealers lag: The 45 licensed dealers collectively sell < 60 000 vehicles per year, a figure far below demand.
- Regulatory constraints: Current quota system and high taxes (≈ 50 % of a car’s final price) limit legal imports and fuel the grey‑market.
- Economic impact: The informal market is estimated to cost the state ≈ 2.6 billion TND in lost tax revenue annually.
Detailed Report
1. Registration Numbers Reveal a Growing Grey‑Market
During an interview on Radio Express FM, Debache highlighted that 93 000 vehicles were registered in Tunisia in 2025. Of these, 29 000 (just under 30 %) were imported via the parallel market, marking a ~ 25 % increase compared with 2024.
2. Official Dealers Struggle to Meet Demand
Tunisia’s 45 authorized dealerships together move fewer than 60 000 cars each year. The quota system in place severely restricts their ability to satisfy consumer demand, despite a rise in the number of brands represented locally.
3. Why Consumers Turn to the Grey‑Market
- Public transport deficiencies push many Tunisians toward private vehicle ownership.
- Rising vehicle prices and a scarce supply of new cars make the parallel market an attractive, albeit risky, alternative.
4. An Aging National Fleet
Debache warned that over half of the national vehicle stock—including private cars, taxis, and rural transport vehicles—has exceeded 15 years of service. By law, such vehicles should be replaced after 10 years, but price inflation and limited availability of new cars hinder compliance.
5. Policy Contradictions
The president criticized a policy mismatch:
- The government promotes fleet renewal and the adoption of electric and hybrid cars to curb pollution and energy consumption.
- Simultaneously, it allows the import of 4‑ to 5‑year‑old used cars through parallel channels—vehicles that are generally more polluting and less safe.
6. Tax Burden on Legal Imports
Taxes and customs duties account for nearly 50 % of a vehicle’s final price. This heavy fiscal load discourages legal imports and fuels the growth of the informal market.
7. Call for Regulatory Reform
Debache urged the authorities to:
- Revise the quota system and lower import duties to make legal channels more competitive.
- Strengthen oversight of fiscal incentives for Tunisians abroad and the “popular car” program to prevent their misuse by parallel traders.
- Open the market to broader, lawful competition, which would:
- Expand the range of available models,
- Reduce retail prices,
- Gradually shrink the parallel market, and
- Recover an estimated 2.6 billion TND in annual tax revenue.
“Reforming the automotive sector is both an economic and security imperative. It will modernize the national fleet, protect consumers, and stimulate investment in Tunisia’s automotive industry,” Debache concluded.
SEO Keywords
Tunisia automotive market, parallel car market, vehicle fleet aging, car import quotas, automotive taxes Tunisia, electric vehicles Tunisia, automotive industry reform, Ibrahim Debache, Tunisian car dealers, grey market cars, vehicle registration 2025
For further updates on Tunisia’s automotive sector, stay tuned to our news feed.
