Vietnam imported 11,172 cars in the first nine months of 2018 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamimported 11,172 cars between in the first nine months of 2018, up 5,142 unitsfrom the same period last year, according to the General Department of VietnamCustoms.
Of the figure, more than 10,800 (equivalentto 92 percent) were imported from Thailand and Indonesia. The remainder camefrom Japan, the US and Germany.
Cars with nine or fewer seatsshipped to ports in Ho Chi Minh City accounted for more than 51 percent oftotal car imports to Vietnam. Of these smaller vehicles, 93.5 percent came fromSoutheast Asian countries and benefited from the regional import dutyexemption, in line with the ASEAN countries’ commitments to lower tariffs from2018.
It is predicted that tens ofimported auto models will enter the Vietnamese market in the last months of theyear, including Mitsubishi Xpander, Mazda BT 50, Ford Everest, Toyota Wigo, andHonda HR-V.
Vietnamese businesses spent 2.5billion USD importing auto parts in the reviewed period.
Japan was the largest source ofimported car components, with Japanese imports valuing at 591 million USD forthe first nine months of the year. Japan was followed by the Republic of Koreaat 560 million USD and China at 465 million USD.
The General Department of VietnamCustoms said that most of these parts were engines, chassis and specialisedtechnology that cannot be made in Vietnam unless manufacturers invest intransferring manufacturing technology to the country.
The parts from Thailand, Indiaand Indonesia were mostly electric cables and steel imported by Toyota, Fordand Nissan for use by domestic car makers.
Vietnamese businesses alsoimported tires, rubber and leather for use in trucks and passenger cars.Electrical equipment was imported from China.-VNA
VNA
