Car makers announce lower prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Berhad is among the car makers that have announced lower prices following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

There would be a reduction of up to RM1,475 or 3.25% per unit on selected variants, Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said.

“The new on-the-road prices includes all models under the Proton comprising Saga, Persona, Inspira, Staria Neo, Exora, Prevé, Suprima S, and Iriz,” he said.

Citing the example of the Proton Saga, he said customers could now get it from as low as RM33,242.40 or a Prevé 1.6L Turbo at RM61,023.46.

“All these prices have taken into account the 6% GST and are the on-the-road prices,” he said in a statement.

Locally assembled models of Honda will be cheaper by between RM500 and RM2,500.

Honda Malaysia assembles the Jazz, City, Civic, CR-V, Accord and HR-V models in Malacca.

However, the price of its fully imported model – the Odyssey – would go up by between RM500 and RM1,000,

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Yoichiro Ueno said the City 1.5L V would now be RM89,467 compared with the pre-GST price of RM90,813.

“The HR-V 1.8L V, meanwhile, will be priced at RM118,229, down from the old price of RM118,815,” he said.

Ueno also said the prices of Honda vehicle spare parts would be lower on an average of 3.7%.

Labour costs, he said, would be more expensive with GST.

“Looking at the bigger picture, overall maintenance costs in view of the cheaper replacement parts will be down from 2% to 4% depending on the model,” said Ueno.

UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ismet Suki said there would be a price reduction of up to RM4,000 or 2% for Toyota and Lexus models.

“We would be transparent in the business transaction and strictly adhere to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act,” he said.