The regime Ministry of Construction will begin to collect tolls from electric vehicles (EV) on its roads and bridges starting from April 1. This will mark the end of a toll-exemption period from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025.
“The toll is only 500 MMK [$0.1 USD],” a ministry official told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Signs informing drivers of the toll price have been placed at the entrance to the roads and bridges where tolls will be collected.
EV car owners complain about the frequent power cuts in Myanmar, which requires them to buy electric generators to charge their vehicles. Twenty units of power reportedly cost 8,000 MMK ($1.7 USD).
The regime Ministry of Energy stated in January 2023 that it would install EV charging points at 24 fuel stations in 11 townships of Yangon and at 14 fuel stations in five townships of Naypyidaw.
The regime Commerce Ministry stated in 2023 that Myanmar nationals working abroad, including sailors, who earn a regular income in foreign countries and send remittances to their families worth $200,000 USD, or more in a year, will be allowed to import an EV worth $10,000 USD.
People who send remittances home worth $50,000-200,000 USD in a year will be allowed to import an EV worth $2,500 USD.
Migrant workers from Myanmar abroad must remit 25 percent of their monthly salaries, via regime-controlled banks, or quarterly into an account which the regime has access to.
Those who fail to comply could be denied passport extensions and Overseas Worker Identification Cards (OWIC), and may face future travel bans.
The Irrawaddy News agency reported on March 4 that Prime Auto, EV Power, and Essential Motors – the three authorized distributors of the Chinese electric car brand BYD in Myanmar – intend to produce the vehicles using the semi-knocked down system, which is a process involving shipping partially assembled vehicles to Myanmar for final assembly.
The regime Road Transport Administration Department stated in December that the number of registered EVs nationwide has reached 6,191.
