The import of cars is forecast to accelerate this year as import tariff in the ASEAN bloc will become zero per cent in 2018. — Photo dspl.com.vn

The Vietnamese auto market sold nearly 26,900 cars in March, an increase of 52 per cent compared with the previous month, according to a Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association report.

Of this figure, there were 16,806 passenger cars, 8,278 commercial cars and 1,789 special-use units, up 67 per cent, 31 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively.

The market witnessed a 35 per cent rise in the sale of locally-assembled cars to touch 18,388 units.

Meanwhile, there were 8,484 imported complete built-up units (CBUs), 114 per cent higher than the previous month.

The import of cars is forecast to accelerate this year as import tariff in the ASEAN bloc will become zero per cent in 2018.

Custom Vietnam recently asked its branches in major cities and provinces to check the certificate of origin on import CBUs when applying the new import tariff rate, especially the origin criteria of vehicles from ASEAN countries.

A report from the General Statistics Office showed that Viet Nam imported 19,000 cars in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 169 per cent in volume and 82 per cent in value. — VNS