FG SHIFTS ENFORCEMENT OF 35% RISE IN TARIFF ON USED VEHICLES TO JANUARY 1, 2015

The National Automotive Council (NAC) has said that the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was progressing as planned and that the implementation date for the collection of 35 percent levy on imported fairly used vehicles was only shifted from Jul 1 to December 31, this year. The council in a statement said that government had not reneged on its promise to shift the implementation process of certain aspects of the NAIDP till January 2015, noting that the application of the levy exemption was only being misinterpreted.
The Director-General, NAC, Mr. Aminu Jalal, in the statement noted: “Government had already shifted the implementation of the full tariff on new vehicles from January 10, 2014 to July 1, 2014 to enable importers to clear the vehicles they had ordered at the old duty rates. Government only extended the concession on the importation of used vehicles only by another six months till December 31, 2014.
“This was because up to three out of four imported cars are used and time needs to be given to the assembly plants to produce affordable vehicles to replace the imported used ones. Unfortunately, this levy on new cars was misinterpreted to mean that all vehicles, including new FBU imports, were exempt from levies until December 31, 2014.” He added, “This could not have been the case because existing and new entrants into the assembling process under the NAIDP have started to roll out new products at competitive rates. As a result of continuous inflow of new FBUs without restriction occasioned by this misinterpretation, assemblers began to cut down on orders for assembly kits, and this has the potential to derail the policy.
“Council wishes to reassure Nigerians that new vehicles have been stockpiled under the NAIDP awaiting buyers, and there is, therefore, no need to fear adverse rise in prices.” he said
The DG explained that a special package under the NAIDP was being worked out for dealers, who had made some commitments, to enable them import new FBUs at concessionary import duty rates (minus the levy) until they set up local assembly operations.
He stated further:  “The response to the policy by investors has exceeded our expectations. The existing assembly plants have a new lease of life, with VON assembling the Nissan and Hyundai vehicles, and PAN resuming assembly of Peugeot cars. INNOSON will soon start car assembly to complement its commercial vehicles production”.
He disclosed that twenty-two companies have indicated interest to assemble vehicles and four will start assembly operations before the end of this year adding that implementation of the policy is now focusing on local content development.”