Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir
A total of 604 hybrid cars were sold last year following the two-year tax waiver granted for such cars until last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the use of Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrid cars was on the rise in the country now.
In 2008, 10 units of hybrid cars were sold, while the figure rose to 267 in 2009 and 327 in 2010, he said when replying to the original question from Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS-Hulu Langat) during question time.
Dr Che Rosli wanted to know the impact of the tax exemption on production and marketing of hybrid cars so far in ensuring the creation of a green environment in the country.
Mukhriz said hybrid cars were imported in the completely built-up form.
“To date, no car manufacturers are producing or assembling hybrid cars in the country,” he said.
He, however, said eight manufacturing licences have been approved till this month to manufacture hybrid and electric cars.
To a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang), Mukhriz said automotive technology which fully used battery power in this country was still new and in fact, the facilities to charge power for such vehicles are not widespread.
“As such, hybrid cars used by the international community are both fuel and battery powered. This enabled hybrid car owners to not only reduce fuel cost but also did not face the problem of the car engine stalling in the middle of the road due to the battery running out of power,” he said when replying to Dr Mohd Hayati who wanted to know the ways of reducing electricity consumption for the Proton Emas car which still run on petrol power. — Bernama