Chinese trucks are being imported into Vietnam through Huu Nghi border gate in northern Lang Son Province. (Photo: Pham Anh/Tien Phong)
Vietnam Register said the country had imported over 25,800 Chinese trucks in the first half of this year, compared with over 35,100 locally made trucks during the period.
Vietnam Register’s Deputy Director Dang Viet Ha said the massive imports of Chinese trucks were a result of low prices and good sales as well as the increase in demand for such vehicles.
An owner of a truck shop on Hanoi’s Nguyen Van Cu Street said Chinese trucks were often 5% to 10% cheaper than locally made vehicles.
“The recent tighter control over vehicle tonnage has proved effective.
You could previously see trucks running at 300% and 400% over capacity, now they have to carry in appropriate cargos, and this drive demand for more vehicles,” Ha said.
“Several types of vehicles also were phased out this year, forcing their owners to buy new ones and this has also driven up demand,” he added.
According to the Vietnam Register, most of imported Chinese vehicles were 28 to 20 tonne trucks and lorries.
However, the vehicles, especially Howo-branded trucks were blamed for damaging roads.
Ha said all imported and locally assembled vehicles have met current quality and technical standards. But newly-available trucks were often unsuitable for rougher roads or terrain.
In order to prevent the possible illegal upgrading of vehicles to increase loading capacity, vehicle importers were being required to remove all awaiting links and any upgrading must be conducted at registration centres.