The charges levied on motorists driving ‘grey vehicles’ – those which are imported second-hand privately – for having their airbags replaced amid mass recalls are “completely legal”, the motor and electric vehicle importers’ association (Semio) said on Friday.

Semio expressed “deep concern” over what it described as a “distorted image” regarding recent changes to vehicle recall procedures.

“The charges cover necessary administrative costs and are entirely legal,” the association said. “They apply exclusively to grey vehicles, which are not covered by European recall obligations and do not benefit from manufacturer support available to vehicles with full European certification.”

It noted that recalls of ‘grey vehicles’ “are not the responsibility of official distributors,” but added that “several distributors, in consultation with manufacturers, voluntarily undertake airbag replacements in the interest of public safety.”

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Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades has previously stated that approximately 60 per cent of vehicles in Cyprus are ‘grey’ imports from third countries. Semio warned that the “uncontrolled” influx of such vehicles poses a problem for Cyprus, adding that “many manufacturers have already raised concerns about driver safety due to these vehicles.”

‘Grey vehicles’, Semio said, “do not have basic safety systems such as eCall”, a European in-vehicle system which automatically calls 112 when it detects that the vehicle has been in an accident.

In addition, it said, grey vehicles come “accompanied by manuals and warnings in languages which are not understood by users and Cyprus”, and “carry mechanical systems unsuitable for European road conditions with different suspension and brake systems”.

It went on to say that ‘grey vehicles’ “do not comply with EU standards on emission and recyclability” and that such vehicles often “lack appropriate after-sales support, such as manufacturer warranties and software upgrades”.

The matter of the regulation of the safety of ‘grey vehicles’ and their potentially faulty airbags was mentioned at last week’s meeting of the committee formed to investigate the history of faulty airbags in Cyprus.

There, the transport ministry’s permanent secretary Marina Ioannou Hasapi explained that Cyprus did not break EU law over its regulation of the import of vehicles with potentially faulty airbags, at least in part because there are also “gaps” in the EU’s legislation on the matter.

The issue of airbag safety stems from the production of faulty airbags manufactured by Takata. The company’s airbags suffer a fault related to exposure to high levels of heat or humidity, which means they have a tendency to explode when released under such circumstances.

This explosion shoots the airbag’s metal inflator outwards and in the direction of the person it was designed to protect, potentially causing further injuries or, in some cases, death.

In February, Vafeades ordered the recall of more than 80,000 vehicles equipped with potentially deadly Takata airbags, with replacements to be completed by October. Of those, 276 vehicles were immediately immobilised and had their road tax and MOT certificates rescinded.

The committee was created in February to investigate the history of the matter, with previous hearings suggesting that the number of vehicles with unsafe airbags on Cyprus’ roads may have been as high as 90,000, while certain vehicles manufactured by American company Ford were also immobilised earlier this month.

Owners of recalled vehicles that were not immobilised are allowed to continue using them but must book an appointment with the manufacturer’s Cyprus-based distributor within eight months to have the airbags replaced. Their road tax and MOT remain valid.

While the transport ministry recommends that affected drivers avoid using their vehicles and seek alternative transport, compliance is not mandatory and no fines will be issued for continued use.

Motorists can check whether their vehicles have been subject to vehicles on the transport ministry’s website.