EVs in PH won’t be charged new import taxes, says EV Owners Society president

The president of the newly formed EV Owners Society, Ferdi Raquelsantos, has confirmed that electric vehicles would be exempt from the new DTI safeguard measures on vehicle imports.

Raquelsantos, who is also the president of the Philippine Parts Maker Association (PPMA) that has welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s initiative to impose provisional safeguard duties on imported vehicles in order to protect workers in local car assembly and manufacturing from a surge in imports, assured society members and prospective EV buyers of the exemption during the society’s recent launch.

Let’s volt in! The launch of the EV Owners Society gathered private owners and stakeholders in a motorcade that showcased available EV brands in the Philippines.
An EV-olution. The Hyundai Ioniq EV joined the motorcade along Daang Hari Road. The Ioniq Electric was named by C! Magazine as the best EV in the Philippines in 2020.
1st electric compact SUV. Along with the Ioniq Electric, the fully electric Kona crossover variant debuted at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show.

At the launch, which featured a motorcade of EVs now available in the country, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc (Hari), the official distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, joined EV advocates to help amp up interest in electric mobility in the country.

The EV Owners Society, the sub-group of EV owners formed by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), aims to bring together private EV owners and other industry stakeholders to discuss and advance the future of the local EV market.

Society adviser and current eVAP president Edmund Araga underscored the group’s important role in promoting sustainable mobility in the country.

“We welcome and support this development,” said Hari president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “It’s been a long time coming. Globally, Hyundai has been leading the charge in commercializing new energy vehicles, while Hari is one of the first local car companies to introduce EVs to the Philippine market.”

Hari debuted the full electric variants of the Ioniq hatchback and the Kona crossover at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show.

In August 2020, Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) launched the Ioniq sub-brand for its line of customer-centric EVs.

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric boasts zero emissions, smart aerodynamics, and sets the standard in electric drive technology. It has an estimated range of over 373 km powered by a high-efficiency, high-power permanent magnet-type electric motor which produces 136 PS. It has all the bells and whistles, including a multimedia information center, drive mode selector, electronic gear shift, six airbags, and 357-liter luggage capacity. In 2020, it won top awards, beating other emerging local EV brands, at the first virtual C! Magazine Awards, adding on to its string of global citations.

The globally acclaimed Kona Electric, powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery which is lighter and more compact, offers a seamless travel experience. Its top variant can accelerate from to 100 kph in 7.6 seconds while consuming less energy. Hyundai’s first and multi-awarded electric subcompact SUV was top-listed by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as America’s greenest car in 2019 and cited by Car and Driver USA as 2019’s best subcompact SUV for its electric-only driving range and standout styling. It brings seamless travel experience with up to 400 km on just one full charge.

“We join the eVAP in seriously looking beyond our current situation,” added Agudo. “The pandemic will pass but environmental concerns are here to stay. Hyundai’s EV lineup is out to help create a better future for all by making these technologies accessible to a greater number of people.”