Imports of luxury cars have not been affected by the island's economic slowdown, according to sales statistics for January compiled by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Although Taiwan is experiencing economic hardships due to businesses transferring operations overseas, a depreciating currency and a high unemployment rate, statistics show that demands for imported cars have been relatively unaffected.
Mercedes-Benz sold 1,468 new cars in Taiwan in January, topping the list of foreign car sales for the month with a 18.3 percent share of the total car market and a sales rate increase of 145.9 percent.
Following Mercedes-Benz, 1,117 new Toyota's were sold for a 14.4 percent share of Taiwan's total car market last month, representing a sales rate increase of 122.1 percent.
Meanwhile, Mazda and Ford sold 898 and 584 new cars last month, respectively.
Among imported luxury cars, BMW was the only one to experience a decrease in sales, dropping 34.5 percent from December of last year. In January, 492 new BMW cars were sold, statistics showed.
Meanwhile, several local sales agents of imported cars have announced price hikes on new cars that took effect Wednesday.
Local sales agents of auto brands such as Kia, Volkswagon, Jaguar, and Mazda recently announced upward adjustments in their sales prices of new cars, ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$100,000 per car, saying that local currency depreciation of about 7 percent against the greenback last year has created some cost pressure for them, in addition to the rising prices for new cars demanded by their foreign auto suppliers.
According to Swire Group, which imports South Korean brand Kia models into Taiwan, various Kia recreational vehicles will have an average of a 5.76 percent price hike.
In addition, Swire will also raise the prices for various VW models -- including Lupo, Polo, Golf, Bora, and the new Beetle -- from NT$30,000 to NT$60,000 per car. The price of a remodeled Passat will jump by NT$80,000 per car, the company added.
Jaguar Cars Taiwan has also hiked the sales prices of its models by 3 percent.
A local agent of this British brand said the two models S-Type and XJ8 will be increased by around NT$100,000 per car, while that of the Sovereign model will up by NT$40,000 per car.
Mazda Corp Taiwan, likewise has decided to raise the sales price of its MPV by NT$30,000 and that of the remodeled MX-5 sports car by NT$40,000 per car.
Capital Motors (
However, the company said it has not ruled out doing so. This sentiment was also echoed by agents for BMW and Volvo.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
BULLY TACTICS: Beijing has continued its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace even as Xi Jinping talked about Taiwan being part of the Chinese family and nation China should stop its coercion of Taiwan and respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan about sovereignty if its expression of goodwill is genuine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) made the comment in response to media queries about a meeting between former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) the previous day. Ma voiced support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Xi said that although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have “different systems,” this does not change the fact that they are “part of the same country,” and that “external
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source