Laos has done something no other country has tried: it has banned the import of new gas and diesel passenger cars outright. Since June 1, nearly every new car cleared for import has to be electric, and the ban runs through the end of the year
Hold on I hear you cry, what about Ethiopia? In 2024 Ethiopia banned the import of all fossil-fueled cars. In truth, there isn’t a lot of difference but in the Laos ban public transport vehicles, construction machinery, project-related trucks, and other specialized vehicles are exempt. This is a passenger-car policy, aimed squarely at the segment where affordable electric alternatives already exist, reports electrek.
Source: Electrek: Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Laos, like Ethiopia, generates a large portion of its electricity needs via hydroelectric power, and struggles to pay for diesel/petrol imports. Given the Iran-USA conflict, and the resultant high price for oil, this policy seems to make a great deal of sense. What happens after the six-month period will be the critical factor. PSR
