Popular Cars in Tunisia: Characteristics and Conditions for Access
Essia Medfaï, in charge of the popular cars dossier at the Ministry of Commerce, detailed the characteristics of popular cars in Tunisia and the conditions for accessing them during an intervention on national radio on January 30, 2025. These vehicles, with a fiscal power of four horsepower and a cylinder capacity of less than 1200 cm³, are offered by nine concessionaires. The prices of the models vary between 29,000 and 35,000 dinars.
Among the available models are the Peugeot 208, Renault Kwid, Hyundai i10, and others, including a model from Japanese manufacturer Toyota, which will be available soon.
Eligibility Conditions for Acquiring a Popular Car
The eligibility conditions for acquiring a popular car include an annual income ceiling: 15 times the Smig (approximately 7,900 dinars) for families and 10 times the Smig (approximately 5,200 dinars) for individuals. Each Tunisian family can acquire only one popular car, which can be renewed every seven years. The program provides for an annual quota of 10,000 vehicles, with a prior registration process with the concessionaires and the submission of several documents, including a national identity card, birth certificate, and employment or retirement certificate.
The application file is then transmitted to the Ministry of Commerce, where a commission studies each file. Essia Medfaï highlighted that the ministry receives nearly 10,000 applications per year, and concessionaires face long waiting lists before acquiring the vehicles. The initial registration procedure costs five dinars and varies depending on the manufacturers.
