Car importer calls for lowering import tax in electric cars

The director at Rudisa Motor Company NV, Anand Pherai, would like Suriname to amend legislation to make it cheaper to purchase a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. “Fuel is getting more expensive and car maintenance costs are increasing so we must opt for elctrical cars which are gaining more ground worldwide. But in Suriname there is still very little awareness about that,” said Pherai. A growing number of customers are reportedly seeking cheaper and enviornment-friendly cars.

“Rudisa Motor Company NV wants to lend a helping hand by importing these vehicles but the legislation and infrastructure are still an obstacle. Rudisa will start importing Volvo cars next year. Volvo has several hybrid models at reasonable prices and our customers also want them but as a car dealer I must sadly disappoint them because at the moment it would be senseless to import these vehicles because it is currently virtually impossible to have such a car in Suriname,” said Pherai who added that car dealers currently have to pay the same import tax for hybrid cars as the normal ones. “The system in Suriname makes no distinction when it comes to the value of a car to determine the import tax. In other countries the import tax is calculated by looking at the car cylinder. A growing number of countries are encouraging people to opt for hybrid and electric cars by lowering the import tax. That is why hybrid and electric cars are cheaper,” said Pherai. He explained that these cars cause less damage to the environment because of their low CO2 emissions. The fuel usage is little to nothing and maintenance is cheaper. “That is why the people in many countries establish facilities for hybrid and electric cars. Those cars are better for your health and the environment and people also save a lot of money because they no longer have to buy fuel or spare parts. Suriname has committed itself to many international treaties and declarations on tackling climate change and creating environment friendly surroundings but we have sadly done very little to achieve those goals. That is sad but true.”