BYD Electric Vehicles Held Over Tax Dispute
Sri Lanka customs have detained nearly 1,000 electric vehicles from Chinese manufacturer BYD over suspected undervaluation of motor power to reduce excise duty. The vehicles, imported by John Keells Group, face scrutiny for misdeclaring motor power output. The investigation has prompted calls for independent verification.
- Country:
- Sri Lanka
Nearly 1,000 electric vehicles from BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, are currently detained at Sri Lanka Customs due to suspected undervaluation of motor power for excise duty purposes, officials reported to the parliamentary oversight committee on Wednesday.
The vehicles, imported by John Keells Group, BYD's official agent in Sri Lanka, are under scrutiny for allegedly declaring a motor power of 100 kilowatts, while the actual output is reportedly 150 kilowatts. This misdeclaration could lead to a substantial duty discrepancy—1.4 million Sri Lankan rupees for 100 kW versus 5.4 million for 150 kW.
Harsha de Silva, Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, has called for independent verification by an internationally accredited agency. He cited a previous dispute over a contaminated fertilizer shipment, which led to compensation being paid to China. Customs officials noted investigation delays due to lack of support from John Keells Group, which denied accusations of misleading the customs.
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