The Market Share of Hybrid Vehicles Will Increase
Yesterday, minister of industry, mine and trade announce that according to the government’s new approval, import tariffs for hybrid vehicles will be reduced.
Khodrocar – Last year, the twelfth government increased the import tariffs for hybrid vehicles. Tariffs of imported hybrid vehicle from 1500 cc to 2000 cc engine displacement increased from 5 to 45 percent and for the vehicle with 2000cc to 2500cc displacement, this number was 65 percent.
It was obvious that Iran wanted to move backward about hybrid vehicles but the importers and automotive industry experts criticized this policy and the government promised to review those tariffs.
In addition, yesterday, Mohammad Shariatmadari announced the new tariffs, which has been reduced noticeably. The tariffs both reduced from 45 and 65 percent to 25 percent.
What are the effects of this reduction of tariffs on prices and market share of imported hybrid vehicles? Will these cars be able to gain more share of the imported market?
Javad Nafari, an automotive industry expert tells Khodrocar regarding the issue: The tariff reduction of imported hybrid cars will have a huge effect on their prices. Considering the high prices of gasoline versions of the same vehicles, it is expected that hybrids will extend their market share.
He continues: Currently, the price of hybrid cars in Iran is higher than other countries. The tariff reductions can fulfill this gap between the prices of these vehicles in Iran and other countries.
Nafari believes that there are other factors, which can affect the market share of hybrids.
He says: Factors like exchange rate fluctuation especially Dollar exchange rate and consumers’ purchasing power are important. Peoples purchasing power has been reduces because of this exchange rate fluctuations.
Reduction of tariffs for hybrid vehicles shows that the government is now paying attention to this type of vehicles.
Now, we should wait and see, whether these vehicles are able to increase their market share in Iran or not.
Khodrocar Reporter and Translator: Maziyar jafarieh