KUALA LUMPUR: The new National Automotive Policy (NAP2020) has an instant effect, albeit one that will obviously not sit well with consumers and some players.
A few hours after NAP2020 was unveiled, Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd announced that prices of selected Honda cars would increase by about five to nine per cent effective from February 21.
“The anticipated higher prices of selected Honda cars follows the review to the completely knock-down (CKD) customised incentive,” Honda Malaysia said in a statement today.
The customised incentive was different from the earlier-announced excise valuation regulation which was expected to not affect vehicle prices, the company added.
“We will fully adhere to the latest requirement,” said Honda Malaysia, which is the top-selling non-national car distributor.
At press time, other car distributors have not announced any price changes, although it is understood that some were still studying and digesting information related to NAP2020.
Meanwhile, the likes of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) lauded measures taken by the government under NAP2002, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.
UMW Toyota president Ravindran K said the government had provided an updated “roadmap” for the industry development, with direction and guidance to forward planning, especially investments here.
“The introduction of the Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV) programme provides another area to direct future product development for the Malaysian market. UMW Toyota is keen to support this, in line with the NAP2020 objectives, when specifications and expectations are clear,” he added.
Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said NAP2020 reflected consistency in the government’s policies to advance the local automotive eco-system to the next level.
“This is apparent in the continued support for component localisation, which is the backbone of the country’s automotive industry,” he said in a statement today.
He said Perodua had bought RM43.5 billion of components from local suppliers over the past decade. Last year, the country’s top-selling car company spent RM5.4 billion to buy local components.
“This year we expect to spend nearly RM6 billion on locally-sourced automotive components. This volume sustains and fortifies the Malaysian automotive eco-system, contributing to the economy, jobs and nation-building,” he added.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd said the NAP2020 was a positive enhancement to the NAP2014 as it aims to make Malaysia a regional automotive leader.
“The development and production of EEVs and NxGV with increased levels of automation is an explicit encouragement by the government on future mobility in Malaysia,” said MBM president and chief executive officer Dr. Claus Weidner.
The German marque expects NAP to benefit all players in the automotive industry.
“For Mercedes-Benz globally, Ambition 2039 is our strategic path towards sustainable mobility. We aim to increase the adoption in Malaysia by delivering sustainable and fascinating mobility to our customers,” he added.
Proton Holdings Bhd said the new strategy presented opportunities to stakeholders in the automotive industry to introduce new technologies to the country while also elevating the skills and capabilities of the local vendor community.
“With the company’s ownership structure (50.1 per cent is owned by DRB-HICOM Bhd and 49.9 per cent by Geely Auto), Proton is able to leverage on its shareholder strengths – giving it access to local ecosystems via DRB-HICOM Bhd and access to new technologies via Geely Auto Group, to seize opportunities presented by NAP2020,” it added.