Can you imagine being restricted from owning a vehicle in any color but white? That scenario is a reality for some people living in the central Asian country of Turkmenistan, bordered by the Caspian Sea.
In recent months, we have talked quite a bit about how our highways in the United States have become less colorful (see the story on my friend Jeff’s Energy Green Honda). But some parts of the world have taken away the choice of unique colors altogether. I didn’t know about it until coming across a Facebook post by my friend David, who was visiting Turkmenistan. He shared the photos in this story.
David said, “Only white, silver, or light gold cars are allowed, and almost all are white. It’s to present a clean image, and if someone goes out of town into the desert, returning with a dirty car, it has to be washed before entering the city limits.”
Turkmenistan’s capital city, Ashgabat, has long been known for its white marble buildings and elaborate national monuments. In fact, the city earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for having the highest concentration of such buildings (over 543, to be more precise).
In line with the theme of white-colored architecture, the city also has strict regulations requiring vehicles to be white, or sometimes very light shades of silver or beige. They also have to be kept clean, and automotive window tint is expressly outlawed. Non-white cars are subject to impoundment and heavy fines, and many owners have been forced to repaint non-compliant vehicles.
The unique scenario began around 2015, when the government stopped importing non-white vehicles. The president at the time, Gubanguly Berimuhamedow, was responsible for the change. He transformed Ashgabat into the “City of White Marble” (and white cars, as it were) that it is today.
There are certainly a lot of government regulations in the United States, including safety, emissions, and fuel efficiency standards, but luckily for us, we can still choose to have a car in any color. Or many colors, if you elect to drive a Volkswagen Golf Harlequin.
