Business
Shelly SalmonFriday, August 09, 2013JAMAICA’S used-car dealers are reporting a decline in sales, largely due to the increase in clearance fees and prices from suppliers in Japan.Linvalle Hamilton, president of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association (JUCDA), says that between January and now, costs are up 20 per cent when compared to the same period last year.He said the slump is most evident in sales of its most popular car — the Nissan Tiida, models of which were sold for under $1 million last year but now fetch prices of up to $1.2 million each.“The industry faced an increase in duty fees on vehicles in excess of 2000CC, resulting in importers paying almost $70,000 in administrative fees to the Jamaica Customs in some cases,” Hamilton told Caribbean Business Report.Meanwhile, he said dialogue continues with Government to resolve issues concerning the age of some vehicles from Singapore, which he said are determined in the licences admitted by the Government.“We are still in dialogue with the Government regarding the issue,” he said, noting that the association expects that the results of the discussions will be favourable for both the dealers and consumers.With regards to complaints that manuals for some imports were printed only in Japanese, he said that issue, too, is being worked on.“Previously, the imports were sourced through New Zealand. This is not the case anymore as vehicles are imported directly from Japan,” he said, noting that local dealers are working with their counterparts in Japan to correct the matter.
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Clearance fees, higher prices hit used-car dealers
