Cambodia slashes import duties on electric vehicles to boost clean transport

Phnom Penh, March 30, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia will cut import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) and related equipment from April 1, 2026, in a bid to accelerate adoption of clean transport and align with its national EV roadmap.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said tariffs on EV chargers, motors, lithium batteries, hybrid and electric cars will be reduced to zero, while duties on family-type plug-in hybrids will fall from 35 percent to 7 percent. Export duties on bauxite, a key aluminum ore, will also be lowered from 25 percent to 10 percent.

The measures are part of Cambodia’s National Policy on Electric Vehicle Development (2024–2030), which aims to cut transport emissions, encourage investment in charging infrastructure, and make EVs more affordable for consumers.

Authorities have already issued regulations for EV charging services, with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap expected to become the first hubs for charging networks. Private sector partnerships are being encouraged to expand the ecosystem nationwide.

Ministry spokesman Phon Rim said electric vehicles offer multiple benefits in terms of the environment, the economy, energy security, and access to new technologies, in line with regional and global trends.

According to a ministry report released on February 5, 2026, the number of registered electric vehicles in Cambodia had reached 12,968 units by the end of 2025. These included 9,065 electric cars, 3,203 motorcycles, and 700 three-wheelers.

Cambodia’s move comes as regional neighbors push ahead with their own EV transitions: Vietnam plans to stop registering internal combustion vehicles by 2035, Singapore by 2030, and China by 2035.

The tariff cuts could make EVs more accessible in Cambodia, but challenges remain, including high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure outside major cities, and the need to strengthen the national grid.