Honda Civic Hybrid Greenlighted for the Philippines?

[ale828]

I heard people in Honda saying that they are waiting to get Tax breaks for the Hybrid before they release it. I am guessing Toyota is doing the same. Someone did tell me there was a bill or presidential decree or something thats lying in wait that would reduce the taxes of hybrid cars.

[manager]

Unless honda is assembling it here. the government has put a zero tariff on parts for assembly of hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. so it just might be not as expensive as the accord

[squala]

Zero tariff? In this country? You can't be serious.

Anyway, probably what made the Accord hybrid not stand out is the fact that it had an even goofier rear than the one we have, plus plate-style wheels. Blech!

[niky]

It's official that there's zero tariff on hybrid parts. So if you make the car here, less taxes.

Siguro if Honda assembles the IMA portion of the car here? Are their local facilities up to it, kaya? Ford is already taking advantage of that tax break to assemble multi-fuel engines here (gas-ethanol hybrids).

[manager]

Zero tariff? In this country? You can't be serious.

i kid you not

Parts of hybrid-fuel vehicles get zero tariffs
Jan. 21, 2006

Abigail L. Ho
Inquirer

BOOSTING efforts to promote use of alternative transport fuels, Malacañang has issued an order cutting down to zero the tariff on imported components, parts and accessories to be used in assembling motor vehicles that will run on alternative fuels, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

Signed on Jan. 12, Executive Order 488 brings the tariff down from one to three percent the tariff on components, parts and accessories of vehicles that will run on such fuels as bio-diesel, bio-ethanol, compressed natural gas, and electricity, he said.

Lotilla said the order should further encourage automakers to produce hybrid, flex-fuel, electric and CNG-fed vehicles.

It should accelerate the integration of alternative fuels into the mainstream fuel market, he said.

Ford earlier announced a plan to invest $20 million in a plant that will produce "flex-fuel" or alternative-fuel vehicles in the Philippines, which would be its first such factory in Asia.

Lotilla said, "We hope other vehicle manufacturers will follow Ford's lead. Demand projections clearly point to increased utilization of alternative transportation fuels in the 21st century. They need to seize this opportunity if they want to survive."

Pending the issuance of a bio-fuels law, the Department of Energy believes that the executive order will play a significant role in encouraging use of alternative transport fuels, Lotilla said.

The government sees widespread use of indigenous alternative fuels as a key element in its energy independence strategy, particularly with the current uncertainty in the international oil market.

Apart from cutting dependence on imported oil, Lotilla said, use of alternative fuels will also improve air quality as well as promote investment and employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

[EuroFD]

If Honda won't develop an economical yet powerful diesel engine for the Civic, then they should speed up the importation of the Hybrid. This is good competition for the Toyota Prius, Hybrid-Camry and Focus-Diesel.

[kyle618]

the first thing id replace in a civic hybrid are the rims.... ugly ass rims. with maybe a bodykit and some nice 19s that'll be one sweet green economical car haha.

[niky]

If Honda won't develop an economical yet powerful diesel engine for the Civic, then they should speed up the importation of the Hybrid. This is good competition for the Toyota Prius, Hybrid-Camry and Focus-Diesel.

The problem is... they do have a good diesel... the European 2.2 TDi. They just won't bring it in due to cost considerations. All the other manufacturers are willing to wait and let Ford and Hyundai test the waters (Focus 2.0 Diesel, Elantra 1.6 Diesel) before taking the plunge. The pricing for diesel sedans puts them square in the sights of diesel MPVs and CUVs, which limits their market share terribly.