Go easy on me folks, first post here (newbie)...

Back in march I had been talking to one of the locals in Phnom Penh, he mentioned in passing that the used cars imported here from the states came on ship in 3 pieces and were welded back together. Anyone hear of such a thing? Curious since wouldn't that affect the structural strength of the cars in accidents?

Maybe someone has pictures.... Very curious.

Thanks.

Sorry no pictures, but yes that story is ages old. The rationale behind it I was told is that they are classified as junk and thus evade the high tariffs on exported vehicles.

taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:11 pm Sorry no pictures, but yes that story is ages old. The rationale behind it I was told is that they are classified as junk and thus evade the high tariffs on exported vehicles.

In other words would they be classed as spare parts, and should be sold on that assumption. possibly avoiding high import tax if sold has a working car?

Yep, could be urban myth but I have my doubts. Supposedly these imports mainly come from Long Beach, Ca.

Thanks for the quick reply's

All makes a lot of sense. I suspect to get them registered requires greasing some palms.

The insurance write off makes a lot of sense. I have noted that there are a LOT of cars in Cambodia with California smog equipment (on sticker bottom of hood).

-Mr Crumbles-

Article from a couple of years ago: Cambodia's Not-So-Secret Grey Car Market Threatens Luxury Auto Industry

Vetter is much more concerned that “the government ensures a level playing field”. This is a reference to the country’s large grey market, where cars are imported second hand – sometimes as scrap – and then re-sold within the country. Unauthorised dealers often avoid paying taxation such as the 10 per cent VAT.

According to the CAIF, Cambodia has the biggest, unregulated grey market in ASEAN, and, apart from Myanmar, is the only country in the economic bloc without any limits on importing grey cars.

“With 40,000 cars imported per year, the grey market is 10 times larger than the official one,” says CAIF President and CEO of Premium Auto BMW, Peter Brongers.

He is concerned by the lack of “real inspection” carried out on cars upon arrival. Many might have serious safety issues. Brongers estimates that 20,000 of the 250,000 cars written off after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, ended up in Cambodian showrooms........

“The CAIF knows of ‘new’ Audi Q7s sold on Monivong Boulevard [in Phnom Penh] to be flood damaged cars, cleaned up and imported as new, but the electronics will get a problem, as will the engine,” he says. “Now if something happens with these cars, people will look at the brand and not the history of the car.”..........

Sorya Pum believes the solution is to ban the import of used cars. “Cambodian customs could start by enforcing the law and reject any cars coming into the country disassembled or taxed under scrap steel tariff,” says the managing director of MG, which opened its first dealership in Cambodia in May 2014.[/entity]
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjbjack ... 843e0f360c

Kuroneko wrote: ↑Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:09 pmSorya Pum believes the solution is to ban the import of used cars. “Cambodian customs could start by enforcing the law and reject any cars coming into the country disassembled or taxed under scrap steel tariff,” says the managing director of MG, which opened its first dealership in Cambodia in May 2014.[/entity]https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjbjack ... 843e0f360c

Good thing there's no conflict of interest possible there, LOL

that genius wrote: ↑Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:17 pm

Kuroneko wrote: ↑Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:09 pmSorya Pum believes the solution is to ban the import of used cars. “Cambodian customs could start by enforcing the law and reject any cars coming into the country disassembled or taxed under scrap steel tariff,” says the managing director of MG, which opened its first dealership in Cambodia in May 2014.[/entity]https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjbjack ... 843e0f360c

Good thing there's no conflict of interest possible there, LOL

Absolutely not!

Forget even bothering to check for California smog emissions equipment. Quite a few of them still have the original dealer decals and license plate covers. And then of course the various bumper and windshield stickers. Christian fish sign, family members, political slogans, a slice of Americana transplanted directly to the KOW.

As for the safety of these vehicles ... when do the Khmer care about safety? Why worry about trivial details such as safety and electrical systems when karma will provide all?