Quote:
Originally Posted by that_one_guy
I can't say from experience exactly how much they cost in China, nor do I know what it converts to in AUS$, but the import tax is something like 100% in China and many developing countries where manufacturing is a major part of the economy.
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I don't think this is the main reason, at least not anymore. I think the tax is 3 categories import, luxury, and a general car tax. Domestically manufactured cars still have a pretty fat tax slapped on to discourage excessive car ownership. A Chinese made Honda Accord or Nissan Altima equivalent sells for over 30k USD. A really low end Chinese brand car that is exported to the EU for ~7kUSD is still sold for around 10k USD or so.
This tax is not unique to manufacturing countries, Singapore hits you with a 100k vehicle licensing cost or something like that, and several European countries also have displacement taxes that can be several times the value of the car. Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark, Sweden, etc. etc. Basically, they really don't want people to have cars.
Chinese made BMWs, MBs, and Audis cost 2x what they do in the US, because they have a luxury tax or something tacked on. Strangely, imported Porsches are only a little bit more than that, coming in at 120% more than they cost in the US. The OP said he paid basically the same as what the Toyota badged Lexus IS from Japan costs in China, probably around 40k USD equivalent.