Carmakers Prefer Imports as Market Demand is High
Many operational carmakers in Vietnam have said that they will import secondhand automobiles to sell in the country in addition to their current production after the Ministry of Trade backs the free importation of used cars.
The Ministry of Trade said enterprises and individuals are allowed to import used cars into the country without import licenses.
Ford Vietnam has shown its great interests in trading used cars while two Japanese-led automakers are closely monitoring the market movements.
Several influential domestic car assemblers in the country such as Truong Hai and Vinamotor said they should return to importing secondhand cars if the market demand is high.
Meanwhile, local potential car buyers are still waiting for imported used cars which will be available in the country after May 1, 2006.
According to estimations, combined taxes on imported secondhand passenger cars of less than 16 seats will be averagely around 600 per cent higher than the car import price.
Delays in consumers decisions to purchase cars has driven car sales by 11 foreign-led carmakers in the country down 32 per cent to 4,733 units in the first three months of this year although car prices have been cut sharply.
Vietnam imported 2,000 automobiles in the first three months, down 43.5 per cent on year.
Vnexpress
Vietnamese
