‘Criminal activity’ blamed for new British cars entering sanctioned Russia | Business News

The head of the UK car industry lobby group has blamed “criminal activity” for British-made luxury cars finding their way to sanctions-hit Russia.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes spoke just over a week later Sky News has uncovered a system Transport vehicles from the United Kingdom and other European countries across the border of Georgia.

Vehicles including Range Rovers made by Solihull were filmed being brought to the border at a time when official statistics show there was no such trade, raising questions about whether British manufacturers were failing in their obligations are.

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The import of cars into Russia is banned due to the UK and EU sanctions imposed in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Mr Hawes insisted the movement of new vehicles was the work of a “third movement” after legitimate exports.

“Nobody exports directly to Russia,” he explained.

He said the industry cannot prevent cars from being resold once they reach authorized dealers and that the SMMT continues to work with the industry to ensure compliance.

“Individual brands have stopped exporting to Russia. When you look at secondary markets, such as in the Caucasus, they certainly try to limit resales by vetting purchases, by vetting dealers, etc.”

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“But as I said, what you can’t prevent is that legitimate sales to certain countries that may not abide by or sign these sanctions do not prevent them from continuing.”

Mr Hawes said the practices filmed by Sky News were “clearly illegal practices” and that they must be stopped.

A government spokesman told Sky News in response to the filming: “The UK has banned the export of thousands of goods to Russia, including cars. Britain’s trade with Russia, worth over £20 billion, is currently under sanctions and we will continue to increase economic pressure until it ends its brutal invasion of Ukraine.

“We are also working with UK companies and exporters to ensure that sanctioned goods are not supplied to Russia and we expect them to continue to monitor compliance with relevant UK sanctions.”