KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Oct (Bernama): Prices for new cars are generally expected to come down by between one and three per cent after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), but the gains could be offset by higher prices of imported auto parts due to foreign exchange factors.
Auto components are mainly imported from Japan and if the yen appreciates against the ringgit, the savings of one to three per cent could be much less because the components would now cost more and that would affect retail car prices.
Royal Malaysian Customs Department GST Director Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy said nobody knows what exactly the foreign exchange rate will be come December or January next year.
“So, I will never say that car prices will go down. I don’t know, nobody knows,” he told Bernama recently.
The GST that will come into effect on April 1, 2015 is supposed to bring down car prices by between one per cent and three per cent.
“There is some savings but we must always remember, the biggest cost for car is not the tax component, i.e., GST, it is the foreign exchange rate.
“Theoretically, the prices will come down, between one to three per cent. But having said that, we must always remember, that’s for new cars.
The Sales and Services Tax (SST) of 10 per cent will be abolished on April 1, 2015 and replaced with the GST which is set at six per cent.
In a previous report, Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI) Chief Executive Officer Mohamad Madani Sahari said the implementation of the GST in 2015 should stimulate demand for vehicles with the reduction of prices due to the abolishment of the SST.
He said the total industry volume (TIV) was better this year compared with last year driven by aggressive sales campaign by industry players.
The TIV forecast for this year of 670,000 units has been revised downwards to 680,000 units.
MAI reported that the TIV for the January to July was 11,490 units or three per cent higher than the corresponding period in 2013.
NS
