Renault revs up for launch of e-car

Renault expects to introduce its electric cars to the Vietnamese market starting from early next year

Xavier Coiffard, general director of Auto Motors Vietnam (AMV), which is the exclusive importer of Renault for Vietnam, told VIR that “AMV proposes the Vietnamese government to offer the lowest tariff level for Renault electric cars, so that the firm can import into Vietnam with ease.”

Currently, the average import tariff for these environmentally-friendly cars is 70 per cent, which Coiffard claimed was “too high,” especially given that Vietnam was trying to cut down its growing greenhouse gas emissions.

“In other regional markets such as Singapore or Hong Kong, we enjoy low tax rates for these cars,” Coiffard said. Though he admitted that “I don’t know whether the Vietnamese government will impose any kind of tax on the cars when they are used in Vietnam.”

AMV will work with relevant ministries on its tax reduction proposal soon.

Last week, Renault-AMV and Mai Linh Group, which is Vietnam’s biggest taxi and transportation services

company, signed an agreement to deploy Renault’s electric cars in Vietnam for taxi transportation services. The agreement aims to help reduce emissions, save energy, and address pollution levels in big cities.

Depending on the level of support from the Vietnamese and French governments, roughly 10,000 -20,000 electric cars are expected to be imported within five years,

during 2016-2021. The cars will be used in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Solutions for domestic assembling may be considered. During the first pilot stage in 2016’s first quarter, 30 cars will be imported into Vietnam, with two models to be marketed including Renault Fluence Z.E. and Renault ZOE.

Renault Fluence Z.E. is a four-door family saloon equipped with a 22 kilowatt battery, with the maximum speed of 135 kilometres per hour. This car can run for 200km upon being fully charged. Meanwhile, Renault ZOE is a five-door supermini which also uses a 22 kilowatt battery, but can run for 240km on a fully charged battery. These two car models were showcased at the recent global climate conference in Paris.

The price for these cars have yet to be confirmed, however it is said that it may range from $15,000-$25,000 per unit.

“This is one of the most ambitious projects of our group since its establishment in 1993. Mai Linh hopes to be the trailblazer in Vietnam for using electric cars as taxis, which will be a trend in the future,” said Mai Linh’s chairman Ho Huy.

Coiffard said Renault would boost its co-operation with Mai Linh. However, he said that the firm had yet to consider extending this co-operation to another taxi firm in Vietnam in the near future.

Renault has sold about 150 units in Vietnam this year, with the revenue up about 30 per cent from last year. Renault currently has seven showrooms in Vietnam, marketing six car models including Koleos, Duster, Latitude, Logan, Megane and Sandero.