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Cambodia: Registered vehicles increase 13 percent in one year
Registered vehicles have risen 13 percent in one year because of rapid economic expansion and rising incomes, according to the annual report from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
The Ministry’s report puts the number of newly registered vehicles this year at 640,183 in total. Consisting of 15,956 heavy vehicles, 92,958 cars and 531,269 motorbikes.
Chhoun Voun, director-general of the Ministry’s General Department of Land Transport, told Khmer Times that the increase of registered vehicles is from the economic growth, rising income of the people, and full peace in the country. This has meant that people want to travel and they can purchase vehicles.
Voun stressed that from 1990 until today, there have been more 5 million registered in the Kingdom. He said that it has increased by more than 300,000 to 400,000 vehicles year on year. Of which, motorbikes share 40 percent.
“For the unregistered and illegal vehicles, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport cooperate with the Ministry of Interior and Police to not run those cars on the road without a number plate, we have achieved it, however, for new cars they have compliance with the law,” Voun added.
Tan Chong Motor Cambodia, the only distributor of Nissan vehicles in Cambodia, has enjoyed remarkable growth in recent years because of the importation of new cars, according to Hout Kimmeng, senior country manager of Tan Chong Motor Cambodia.
He told Khmer Times that the company supplies the local market with a wide range of models from Japanese carmaker Nissan, including Navara, Pickup, Terra and the 15-seat Urvan, according to Mr Kimmeng, who pointed out that the pickup is the most popular model here. “The pickup is in high demand here as it is a very versatile vehicle,” he said.
He said the company’s imports of new cars is on the rise. Every year, its import activity grows by 15 to 20 percent. “Sales are growing every year,” he said.
Un Kanha, General Manager of Mazda, told Khmer Times that her company is seeing a surge in sales of new cars in 2019. She said that the sales increased 145 percent to nearly 4,000 cars in 2019.
Kanha added that currently, customers are aware of the use of a new car, while the price of used cars is increasing, so customers are moving to purchase these new cars. Also, banks have provided loans that are fast and at affordable interest rates. Based on these factors our company has seen considerable sales growth.
Kanha said that she is deeply worried about the unregistered and unlicensed vehicles being sold in Cambodia because they impact new cars and result in a price that is lower than the authorised dealership.
“What can help our customers to facilitate vehicles with 3 years of guarantee and 2 years of free maintenance,” Kanha added.
Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transports, said that to continue to provide services to the people, the government will issue the sub-decree number 73 that allows the current owner to keep their old number plate when they sell their cars, so they can use those number plates with their new car.
“Currently, there is no sub-decree. So, when they sell a car, they will sell the number plate with, so we are now preparing the draft sub-decree to the chairman of the National Road Safety Committee for checking with all members of the committee, and to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The premiere signed this draft sub-decree on June 3, 2019,” Sun added.
“After having the Prime Minister’s approval of the sub-decree, the Ministry of Public Works together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the anti-corruption unit will establish the Inter-Ministry’s commission to manage and study how various countries sell special and personalised number plates,” he added.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen said government revenue from tax collection is growing rapidly because of rising incomes and the country’s economic development.
“In the past, car and motorcycles accounted for only 33 percent of total income from customs and excise but this year that figure has risen to 52 percent. This is because more and more Cambodians can now afford to buy a car,” Mr Hun Sen said.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50677837/registered-vehicles-increase-13-percent-in-one-year