Hybrid Plan for Lexus Hits Snag in Thailand
#1
03-24-2005, 03:43 PM
Hybrid Plan for Lexus Hits Snag in Thailand
A plan by the Lexus Group of Toyota Motor Thailand to make the hybrid-powered RX400h competitive in the Thai market has been hampered by intricate details in excise taxation.
The emerging Japanese luxury car brand has eyed the 10% tax rate for vehicles with hybrid power, only to know later that the special category has engine displacement capped at 3,000cc.
The RX400h combines an electric motor to a 3.3-litre petrol V6 (RX330) sold in the American market and is claimed to give ``V8 performance with fuel economy of a four-cylinder motor''.
Planned to make its Thai debut at the Bangkok Motor Show next week, Lexus' ``green'' sports-utility vehicle is now slated to go on sale in Thailand in 2007, even though it hits showrooms in Japan, Europe and the US this year.
``It's quite funny why (the Excise Department) wants to promote cars with hybrid powertrains, but still limits the engine size to no more than 3,000cc,'' noted a senior executive at Toyota, adding that there is no plan to lobby the government to make any changes.
The emerging Japanese luxury car brand has eyed the 10% tax rate for vehicles with hybrid power, only to know later that the special category has engine displacement capped at 3,000cc.
The RX400h combines an electric motor to a 3.3-litre petrol V6 (RX330) sold in the American market and is claimed to give ``V8 performance with fuel economy of a four-cylinder motor''.
Planned to make its Thai debut at the Bangkok Motor Show next week, Lexus' ``green'' sports-utility vehicle is now slated to go on sale in Thailand in 2007, even though it hits showrooms in Japan, Europe and the US this year.
``It's quite funny why (the Excise Department) wants to promote cars with hybrid powertrains, but still limits the engine size to no more than 3,000cc,'' noted a senior executive at Toyota, adding that there is no plan to lobby the government to make any changes.
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