Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday 27 July 2021

Import Duties : Time to get Rational

 


 

Not emotional

 

Context :

Sparks begin to fly over demand for EV duty cuts  /  Eco Times / 28 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  Auto Inc seemingly divided over the way ahead

Ø  SIAM, TaMo and OLA chief have opposed any policy relief to imported EVs

Ø  Split wide open : No special duty rates for imported EVs in India

Ø  Tesla seeks 40 % import duty on imported electric cars

Ø  60 % -100 % present duty rate depending on the value of the car

Ø  Auto Industry lobby, Tata Motors, Ola against special concessions

Ø  Hyundai supports a lower duty for EVs


Ola’s Aggarwal strongly disagrees with Musk’s call   /  Business Line  /  28 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  “ Let us have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and also attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so “, tweeted Aggarwal on Tuesday

Ø  Echoing the sentiments of Aggarwal, Suhas Rajkumar, Founder-CEO of Simple Energy, a Bengaluru-based electric two wheeler manufacturer, said that “ Build in India “ is the way forward for the EV industry

Local Solar Cos jittery as curbs on Chinese Modules end this week  /  Eco Times / 28 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  Domestic solar manufacturers are jittery as the import duty protections to prevent dumping of Chinese modules are expiring by the end of the week, with no replacements in sight yet.

Ø  The current safeguard duty (SGD) of 14.5% on imports is set to expire on July 30. Due to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, an SGD cannot be applied for more than four years; India is currently in its third year. Even if the SGD is extended for the fourth and final year, WTO rules also dictate PROGRESSIVE LOWER RATE of duties, which would result in an SGD of approx. 14 % for the coming months

Ø  Meanwhile, the government only plans to levy ( from April 2022 ), a BASIC CUSTOMS DUTY of ,

       #  25 %  on Solar Cells, and

       #  40 %  on Modules

 

Ø  This provides for an EIGHT MONTH “  Duty Holiday “ , that Indian Power Developers are hoping to exploit by stockpiling Solar Modules for future projects

Import Duty Incidence on fully assembled Solar Panels Vs fully assembled Electric Cars

 

PERIOD

FULLY IMPORTED SOLAR PANELS

FULLY IMPORTED ELECTRIC CARS

 

 

 

( A )

Protection Period

 

 

 

 

 

2019 - 2022

Safeguard  Duty of  14.5 %

FAME I

 

(Phase 1) 2015-17  >   60 %-100 %

2023

Safeguard  Duty of   14.0 %

(Phase II) 2017-19  >   60% - 100 %

 

 

 

( B )

Free Market Competition Period

 

 

 

 

 

July 2023 onwards

Basic Custom Duty of :

 

FAME II

 

Solar Cells  >  25  %

Phase I  ( 2019- 2022 )   >  40%-60%  ?  

 

Modules      > 40  %

Phase II ( 2022 – 2024 ) >   30%-50%  ?  

 

MY TAKE  :


Ø  Elon Musk has repeatedly said :

      “ Starting with import / sale of fully assembled Model 3 , we plan to ,

        progressively set up a full-fledged manufacturing facilities in India “

       

Ø  Let the Central Government tell Elon :


  Good !


We will let you import and sell, fully assembled Model 3 in India for ONE YEAR , at 40 % import duty, provided ,


 #  You will NOT be allowed to import fully assembled cars beyond FIRST

      year


#  From Second Year onwards, you will be allowed to import ONLY some

    sub-assemblies /  components ( which are not being locally manufactured

    by any Indian Company ), by paying import duties as applicable to those

    sub-assembles / components

    

    

 #  You will undertake / commit to a Phased Manufacturing Program , as

      envisaged below :

              ( source :   Will Tesla follow Apple ? ………………. 23 May 2017 )

 

    Extract :

 

Govt has proposed to Apple , the following Phased Manufacturing Program ( PMP ) :

 

 

2017-18  :

Mechanics , Die-cast parts, Microphone and Receiver , Key Pad and USB cable

 

 

2018-19  :

Populated Printed Circuit Boards, Camera Modules, and Connectors

 

 

2019-20  :

Display Assembly, Touch Panels , Vibrator Motor and Ringer

 

 

 

Nothing revolutionary here to anyone who applied for an Industrial Manufacturing License, around 1970  !

 

 

At that time, one was required to submit a PMP , along with the IL ( Industrial License ) Application

 

 

And , even provide the figures of increasing “ local content ( by value ) “ in the selling price of the product proposed to be manufactured locally ( indigenization  )

 

 

And even provide , figures of “ Anticipated Value “ of Import Licenses required for each phase ! And provide figures for components imported and products made / sold , each year !

 

 

One only hopes that what Govt proposes to Apple is made “ public “ on DIPP web site so that there is ,

 

 

·         Total transparency

 

·         No ambiguity  (  no scope for arbitrariness  / discretion  )

 

·         Absolute clarity

 

 

 

AND IF AN IDENTICAL POLICY FRAME WORK IS PREPARED – AND MADE PUBLIC ON DIPP WEB SITE – IN RESPECT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES , THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR ELON MUSK TO TWEET ( HIS APPREHENSIONS ) , NOR ANY NEED FOR A TWEETED RESPONSE !

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dear Elon :

 

 

For immediate approval ( in 24 hours ) , pl submit your PMP as follows :

 

 

2017-18  :

Set up factory next to Mundra Port ( Gujarat ) to facilitate world-wide exports

 

 

2018-19  :

Source locally, Tyres / Chasis / Body / Electricals  / Windows / Dashboards ..etc

 

 

2019-20   :

Manufacture in your own factory , Li-ion Battery  / Wall-mounted Powerpack Storages /

Solar Roof Tiles

 

 

2020-21  :

Manufacture  RFID Sensors - Cameras – GPS locators

 

 

2021-22   :

Augmented Reality  Devices /Autonomous Navigation Devices ( Radar – Lidar  )

 

 

 

 

Now , it is very possible that neither Shri Gadkariji , nor Shri Goyalji , would be satisfied with such a slow PMP , spread out over a period of 5 years

 

 

They may, well request  Elon to cut it down to 3 years

 

 

And , if they do, I get a feeling that Elon would telescope the entire PMP , in 2 YEARS !

=================================================

 

Dear Shri Gadkariji,

 

It is high time my 4 YEAR old suggestion ( for a STANDARD / MODEL , phased manufacturing program – PMP – for Foreign Companies wanting to make / sell EVs , to be framed and uploaded on Govt website ), is acted upon to put an end to the controversy which has been unleashed by Tesla’s request for import duty reduction


And, if our local EV manufacturers have fears of Tesla dumping its Model 3 ( due to lowering of import duty from 60 % to 40 % as requested by Tesla ), just ask them :


“ If Tesla Model 3 ( CIF of $ 39,990 = Approx Rs 30 Lakh ) pays 40 % duty ( Rs 12 lakh ) , taking the total to Rs 42 lakh ( before GST / Dealer margin ), how many will it succeed in selling in ONE YEAR ?


 Should you not be worried that , even with 60 % duty, Chinese companies ( BYD – SAIC  etc ), may sell into India , their fully assembled electric cars for Rs 10 lakh or less ?


As done in case of Solar Panels / Modules imported from China , do you want me to impose a SGD of 14.5 % on imported Electric Cars ( on top of existing 60 % ) , in order to protect you ?


Solar panels ( which are far more important to our Renewable Energy program ) are slated for a BASIC import duty of only 25 % from next year. Why should Electric cars be treated differently ?

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com  / 28 July 2021

  

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