The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Car dealers in Bhutan are busy taking vehicle orders after the two-year ban on import of vehicle, which was placed in July 2012, was lifted. They have been receiving enquiries and bookings from customers for mainly the Indian manufactured vehicles.
The Deputy General Manager, Bhutan Hyundai Motors, Pema Lodey, said they have received about 80 orders from clients, with most of them opting for the Indian manufacture vehicles. The company will order the vehicles through an agent from next month or in October. He said the Hyundai vehicles and spare parts are purchased from South Korea and India. The various models being sold are Tucson, Santa Fe, Accent, Getz, Sonata, H-1 bus, i10, i20 and Santro.
Dhejung Honda Motors has registered about 9 orders from clients. The General Manager, Dhejung Honda Motors, said that a few orders have been kept on hold as a few clients are processing for loans from the banks to buy cars.
An official with Zimdra Maruti Dealers said they have received more than 150 orders from Thimphu and Phuentsholing clients. The vehicles are scheduled to arrive in the country from next week.
The Manager, TATA Motors, Kezang, said with the vehicle import ban lift recently, they have received 10 orders from the customers so far. TATA Motor plans to bring the vehicles in the show room by next month. “I hope order might increase after loan is provided to the people by banks,” Kezang said.
With a new taxation policy in place, the ban on import of vehicle was lifted on July 2014.
