PARALLEL IMPORT LAWS RUFFLE INDUSTRY FEATHERS

By Tim Stanners 2 Min Read

The Federal Government has announced this week that it intends to allow individual consumers to import new-and-near-new vehicles into Australia from 2018, effectively by-passing dealerships altogether. The announcement has certainly ruffled some vehicle industry feathers, but may well be a blessing for consumers however, with the overall intent to help facilitate a reduction in new vehicle prices.

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The Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects, Paul Fletcher announced: “The law will be changed so that, from 2018, a consumer will be able to personally import a new car or motor cycle from another country with comparable standards to Australia’s, up to once every two years, if specified conditions are met.”

The Australian Government will specify the countries considered to have comparable standards. Of the world’s right hand drive countries, Japan and the United Kingdom currently meet the standard.

“The vehicle must be a motorcycle or right hand drive passenger vehicle, be no more than 12 months old and have no more than 500km on the odometer.”

Classic and collectible vehicles haven’t been forgotten either, with the removal of the import duty currently affecting this class.

“The Government will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to remove the $12,000 special duty on imported used vehicles from 2018.”

“Motor vehicle manufacturing is a global industry where global standards apply—so it makes sense, and saves money, for Australia to use the global standards as much as possible,” Mr Fletcher said.

With up to 30,000 Australians expected to take the opportunity to import a new vehicle from overseas, it’s little wonder these new rules have raised the eyebrows of dealerships across the country.

How do you think this will affect the new car market in Australia and will you take the opportunity to import a new vehicle directly from overseas?

 

 

 

 

 

 


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