Go Green, Go Hybrid!

By Liew Pui Kun, June
peijun86@hotmail.com


Government Promotes Environment Friendly Vehicles.

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects prices of hybrid cars to be at a more affordable price next year, after Budget 2011 announcement of full import and excise duty exemptions for hybrid cars until Dec 31, 2011. 

President Datuk Aishah Ahmad said before the tariff reduction, hybrid cars in Malaysia are exorbitant, that it deters convincing sales in the region. Hybrid cars have sold not more than 300 units in a year. At the moment, those involved in producing hybrid cars are calculating the price following the budget announcement. She is reported to be promising the car price to be decreases next year.

After the removal of excessive duties for hybrid car, Honda Company of Malaysia announced the price that is standing at RM108, 980 currently will be down by RM21, 000 for its Civic Hybrid Honda.

Hybrid vehicles is to introduce energy-saving and environmental protection as its unique selling point. The government has announced in Budget 2011, the possible extension of the hybrid tax structure of imported cars and exemption from import duty fees.

The adjusted price of Honda Civic Hybrid is RM108, 980. The full duty exemption would further reduce the price of hybrid vehicles and make them more affordable for Malaysiasn to enjoy the Hybrid Synergy Drive Technology. The move will make hybrid vehicles more accessible for the consumers and we are looking into extending our hybrid vehicle line-up’ Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Rohime Shafie said in a statement

He also said that, apart from the price for the people, the benefit they can enjoy is with the fact that it is a car that possesses an advanced hybrid technology and uses lower fuel consumption. Hybrid technology has always been the trend of the future. He added that he is happy with the car business that the government is promoting due to the technology.

The special move to promote hybrid cars in Malaysia was introduced in Budget 2009 where the Government had proposed a 100 per cent exemption of import duty and a 50 per cent exemption of excise duty on new completely built-up units of hybrid cars below 2,000cc.

Now in Budget 2011, the 50 per cent exemption of excise duty has been raised to 100 per cent.

This incentive is also extended to electric cars as well as hybrid and electric motorcycles.

At the moment, two franchise holders are offering hybrid cars below 2,000cc in their product line-up, Honda Malaysia with its 1.4-litre Civic Hybrid priced at RM129,980 and UMW Toyota Motor's 1.8-litre Prius at RM175,000.

It would be exciting to see more hybrid vehicles entering the Malaysian market as more people are now aware about the effectiveness of hybrid technology as a proven alternative to lowering fuel consumption.