The government will continue to give special incentives to electric, hybrid and environment friendly cars assembled in the country, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.
He said among them were tax exemptions so that these cars could be affordable for the people from all levels of society.
“To date several companies have applied to assemble environment friendly cars but the government understands that they are still in the process of setting up capacities.
“These incentives are supposed to be there until end of this year but we might continue to give them for next year …so that these companies are able to set up their vehicle manufacturing plants as soon as possible,” he said after officiating the 41st annual general meeting of the Sultan Ibrahim 1 Secondary School here today.
Mukhriz said the government would also at the same time seriously consider applications from conventional car producers for the production of vehicles that transmit less carbon monoxide and with lower fuel consumption.
Incentives will be also given to such vehicles which are capable of competing with electric and hybrid cars, he said.
On complaints that hybrid cars presently sold were still very costly, Mukhriz hoped that these cars could be sold at more affordable prices once the producers are able to set up their manufacturing plants with the given tax incentives.
He also said that car sales for last year had continued to be on the uptrend and was confident that it would remain so this year as well.
