{"id":8005,"date":"2013-12-20T10:05:07","date_gmt":"2013-12-20T02:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=8005"},"modified":"2014-07-01T15:54:52","modified_gmt":"2014-07-01T07:54:52","slug":"saving-environment-money-with-hybrid-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/saving-environment-money-with-hybrid-cars","title":{"rendered":"Saving The Environment And Your Money With Hybrid Cars"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the number of hybrid cars continues expanding in Malaysia, comparing them becomes even more daunting. For a regular drive, trying to make sense of all the numbers can be akin to understanding brain surgery.<\/p>\n

However, iMoney.my has done the homework and simplifies the task for you to help you make the decision of purchasing a hybrid car much easier.<\/p>\n

Zooming in to Malaysia<\/b><\/p>\n

In Malaysia, sales of hybrid cars have been growing ever since the elimination of import and excise duties on hybrid vehicle models below 2,000cc. The policy was introduced under Budget 2011 as part of the Government\u2019s initiative to help reduce the Nation\u2019s carbon footprint, and is effective until 31 December 2013, which is about two weeks from now \u2013 until further notice.<\/p>\n

To better understand how the move had benefited hybrid car buyers in Malaysia, you\u2019ll only have to look at the price of a Toyota Prius, which used to cost approx. RM175,000 before the exemption and is now RM139,915.30 \u2013 about a 20% drop in price.<\/p>\n

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According to figures from the Malaysian Automotive Association, the total sales of hybrid cars in Malaysia had surged drastically from a negligible 322 units in 2010, to 8,403 units in 2011 and 15,355 units in 2012 following the introduction of the duties exemption.\u00a0 Though car makers are now calling for the duties exemption to be extended beyond 2014, there has been little news from the Government to date, though a formal announcement is expected to be made with the release of a new National Automotive Policy by the end of 2013.<\/p>\n

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As for car buyers who do not wish to take chances and are actively seeking to beat the duties exemption deadline and get a hybrid car before 31 December 2013, it may be worthwhile to note that in 2012, the three largest marques in hybrid car sales in Malaysia were Honda (8,712 units), Toyota (5,653 units) and Lexus (979 units). The present line-ups of hybrid car models under 2,000cc from these \u201cBig Three\u201d are as follow:<\/p>\n

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\n<\/a>* price with insurance<\/em><\/p>\n

** price without insurance<\/em><\/p>\n

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Key takeaways:<\/b><\/p>\n