The UNEP 2021 report on Used Vehicles shows that between 2015 and 2020, approximately 2 million used vehicles were exported to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), almost 10% of the global used vehicle exports.

Countries in the LAC region lack regulations for the import of safer and cleaner used vehicles. Due to this, a large share of the imported used vehicles are sub-standard and important contributors to high levels of road accidents and fatalities, air pollution and climate emissions.

Since 2020, UNEP and partners have successfully delivered on the UNRSF Phase I project “Safer and Cleaner Used Vehicles for Africa” and are currently implementing Phase II for Africa and Asia. Building on the success and experience of these projects, Phase III of the project will expand to eight countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

On 22 June, UNRSF hosted an information session to discuss the project with partners from UNEP, ECLAC, UNECE, FIA and government agencies from the eight partner countries, namely: Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama.

The project aims to put in place and enforce regulations, standards, and processes to ensure that importing countries will only receive quality used vehicles; and that exporting countries agree to minimum requirements for the export of used vehicles.