Honda Cars PH partially absorbs safeguard duty

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) said it will collect only a portion of the safeguard duty imposed by the government on their affected imported passenger car and light commercial vehicle models to lessen the burden on their customers.

In a public advisory, HCPI said it will only collect cash deposit of ₱40,000 for Brio (S/V), ₱60,000 for Brio (RS), ₱7,000 for City (all variants), ₱10,000 for Civic (E) an ₱30,000 for HR-V (RS). The Department of Trade and Industry has imposed safeguard duty of ₱70,000 per imported passenger car and ₱110,000 per light commercial vehicle under Department Administrative Order No. 20-11 to stop the surge in imports that it said has caused the decline of the local automotive industry and displacement of auto workers.

HCPI Vice-President Louie Soriano said the company has decided to “absorb a portion of the safeguard duty to help their customers during this pandemic.” Soriano said this gesture will also encourage more loyal customers for Honda vehicles.

“Honda shall abide by this government directive. However, with our aim of lessening the burden of our customers especially in these trying times, we will only be requiring a portion of the imposed Safeguard Bond,” stated the company advisory.

HCPI will collect the amounts as cash deposits by its authorized dealerships nationwide upon purchase. Should the government return the amount of provisional safeguard duty, the same amount as collected from customers will be refunded to them accordingly.

The public advisory further said that other Honda models namely

Jazz, Mobilio, BR-V, Civic RS, CR-V (2.0 Gas/V diesel) will also be subject to provisional Safeguard Duty soon upon importation.

HCPI is the latest car company to issue the cash deposit requirement pursuant to DAO No. 20-11. Toyota Motor Philippines, Isuzu Philippines Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. already released their public advisories, all three were asking the cash security deposit in full upon purchase.