Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing (Cambodia) Co Ltd plans to ramp up imports of hybrid vehicles (HV) into the Kingdom, as part of a campaign to encourage Cambodians to switch to eco-friendly transportation as alternative and reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, according to transport ministry statement.

The plan was revealed during a meeting between Cambodia Toyota company CEO Ryoji Fujita and Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol at the ministry this month. This comes just over a month after the firm received government approval to set up a vehicle assembly plant in the capital.

Noting that HV adoption would be step forward towards Cambodia’s 2050 carbon neutrality target, Fujita asked the ministry to look into working with its finance counterpart to lower import duties on the vehicles in order to attract Cambodians make the switch.

The minister commented that the government is collaborating with partners to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure nationwide, as well as to promote the advantage of EVs to the Kingdom.

Chanthol has said that the state seeks to increase the proportion of electric cars and motorcycles on Cambodian roads in between 40 - 70 per cent, respectively, by 2050, in line with the “Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality by 2050” as well as other government initiatives.

Finance ministry spokesman Meas Soksensan recommended the company to raise the issue with the Government-Private Sector Working Group D on Law, Tax and Governance (GPSWG-D). 

Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing (Cambodia) Co Ltd recently received the official green light for their proposed of USD 36.7 million vehicle-assembly plant in Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, located just southwest of the capital’s airport.

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) confirmed that its Cambodia Special Economic Zone Board (CSEZB) had agreed to issue a final registration certificate for the venture, noting that it is expected to create 150 jobs.

This comes nearly three months after RMA (Cambodia) Plc, an authorised Ford automobile distributor in the Kingdom, opened its vehicle-assembly plant in Pursat’s eastern of Krakor district in June, with registered investment capital of USD 21 million and plans to produce about 9,000 vehicles each year – Ford Ranger SUVs and Everest pickup trucks.