990 Cars Imported via SaigonPort in Jan-August
Car traders were said to have imported a total of 990 cars via southern Saigon port in the first eight months of this year, Vietnam News Agencies quoted the port statistics as saying.
As many as 700 vehicles were delivered to the port’s zone 1, mostly in July and August, noted the source. Between Aug 8 and 28, the number reached 50 units via the port’s zone thanks to the new tariffs on brand-new automobiles of 70 per cent effective during that time.
Automobile traders said the growing car consumption stems from the country’s bright economic outlook with presence of new rich businesspeople.
Car traders expected import volume of second hand vehicles will increase considerably as long as the new decision effective to reduce 5 per cent of tax for nine categories, hoping for strong sales as retail prices down.
Currently, prices of Hyundai’s Santa Fe sedans down US$7,000 to US$44,900 or 46,900. Toyota Camry now retails for US$56,000-US$57,000, down from US$59,000-US$60,000 in early August.
Had the import tax been axed 10 per cent, the price of such luxury cars would have reduced from US$1,500 to US$2,500, market experts argued, forecasting that the local car market would cool down soon.
According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association, local manufacturers sold 6,559 vehicles in August. (www.vnanet.vn))
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