January auto imports 46 times higher than last year

January auto imports 46 times higher than last year

Cars at the Chu Lai-Trường Hải Automobile Manufacturing and Assembly Complex in the central province of Quảng Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam imported nearly  一 一, 七00 cars worth more than US$ 二 七 三 million in the first month of this year, marking the fifth consecutive month with a volume of at least  一0,000 units, according to statistics from the General Department of Customs.

This figure is about  四 六 times higher than in January last year, which saw particularly low import numbers – just  二 四 六 cars – because many companies, including Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Mitsubishi, announced halts on imports after the Government issued Decree  一 一 六 on the conditions for production and assembly and requirements for warranty and maintenance services. These difficulties have since been resolved, allowing imports to resume.

GSO said that  六 七 per cent of vehicles imported in January were cars with nine seats or fewer. Trucks made up  三0 per cent of vehicle imports and the remainders were cars with more than nine seats and special-purpose vehicles.

Thailand and Indonesia remained the largest car exporters to Việt Nam. Of the January imports, nearly  七, 四00 cars –  六 三 per cent – came from Thailand, worth $ 一 五 三 million.

According to Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, the domestic market witnessed January sales of nearly  三 三, 五00 units, up  二 七 per cent versus the same period last year. Passenger cars led with nearly  二 七, 四00 units sold, followed by co妹妹ercial vehicles with  五, 七 五 五 units and special-purpose vehicles with  三 三 三. — VNS