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Electric vehicle sales yet to gain pace
Businesspeople say high prices, taxes to blame for low demand
JAGARAN CHAKMA
Although Bangladesh is laying the groundwork for gradually adopting electric vehicles (EVs), sales are yet to gain pace because of higher prices, further inflated by an elevated level of import duty and the cost of registration, according to market players.
Still, EVs will one day dominate the local market as the demand for cars run on alternative fuel is rising in line with increasing global awareness about their environmental and economic benefits, they said.
Around 70 units made by global automotive brands such as Tesla, Audi and Porsche have been registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) since September 2022, when the EV registration was introduced.
According to BRTA sources, the “Electric Vehicle Charging Guidelines” have been prepared to provide a framework to establish a wide network of charging stations across Bangladesh.
Sk Md Mahbub-E-Rabbani, director for road safety at the BRTA, said they consider the power capacity of an EV’s battery while giving registration while it is the CC for fossil fuel-run cars.
With this backdrop, Executive Motors Limited, the sole distributor of BMW in Bangladesh, is going to introduce the BMW iX3 M Sport on August 26.
The BMW iX3 M Sport represents a paradigm shift in the realm of sustainable mobility, combining BMW’s iconic design language and innovative technologies to deliver an exhilarating, emission-free driving experience.
Through this move, Executive Motors is reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship and bringing cutting-edge electric mobility to the discerning customers in Bangladesh.
“We are immensely proud to get the opportunity to introduce the BMW iX3 M Sport, the first-ever BMW EV in Bangladesh. This marks a pivotal moment for both the BMW brand and our valued customers in the country,” said Ashique Un Nabi, director (operation) of Executive Motors.
He also said Executive Motors is dedicated to pioneering sustainable automotive solutions, and the iX3 M Sport perfectly embodies this dedication.
The BMW iX3 M Sport combines electrifying performance, futuristic technology and the unmistakable BMW heritage, all while promoting a cleaner, greener future for Bangladesh.
“We believe this ground-breaking electric SUV will captivate the hearts of our customers and set new standards in the automotive landscape,” he added.
Earlier, Progress Motors Ltd, the country’s sole distributor of German brand Audi, said they were the first to officially launch EV sales on January 21 this year.
Fazle Samad, chief operation officer of Progress Motors, said they have delivered 36 units to date.
Progress Motors is retailing the Audi e-tron, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), at Tk 1.86 crore per unit.
The company has set up a fast-charging station in Dhaka and Chattogram. An EV needs 20 to 40 minutes to be fully charged.
Around Tk 1.5 crore is needed to set up such a charging station.
Samad said EVs will be the next big market even though imports have not scaled up due to the complex registration process, lack of charging stations, and higher prices compared to fossil fuel-run cars.
“EVs will dominate the passenger car market as they are eco-friendly and fuel-efficient.”
Samad said the National Board of Revenue currently imposes a 20 percent supplementary duty on imported EVs while the customs duty stands at 99 percent.