Nissan Hopes to Accelerate EV Adoption in the PH, Asks Government to Lessen Import Duties

After the recent introduction and launch of the Nissan Leaf, Nissan Philippines Inc. is considering asking the government to reduce the import duties on electric vehicles (EV). The current rate is at 30%.

“If we can reduce like even 5% or 10% it’s a great help for us because [if] we can reduce this difference — 30 minus 5 or 30 minus 10 — [with] this difference, I can reduce the price,” said Atsushi Najima, Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director.

A single unit of the Nissan Leaf is at around ₱2.8 million. A cut on the import duties would consequently lower the vehicle’s price.

“I’m 100% sure this will help the acceleration of EV adoption in the Philippines,” he added.

Likewise, Nissan also hopes that the government would offer incentives for the development of charging station infrastructures outside of Metro Manila. The automaker already has three charging stations but plans to put up more in the following months.

“If we have a charging station in the north, let’s say Baguio, or south — Batangas — then we don’t have to go much further,” said Najima.

“If regulation changes, [the] EV market will change completely,” he explains.

Source: Business World