VES - How does it affect you as a car buyer?
19 Jan 2018|130,151 views

VES
How does it affect you as a car buyer?
More than half of the cars in this list face a hike in taxes, no thanks to the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme. Find out how this affects you as a car buyer.
Text | Anthony Lim
Photos | Low Fai Ming
Graphic | Denise Elim
Photos | Low Fai Ming
Graphic | Denise Elim
As of 1st January 2018, the outgoing Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme has been replaced with the new (and improved?) Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES).
The aim of the new VES is to reduce not only carbon emissions, but also four other pollutants (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter), which get spewed out into the atmosphere, causing major damage to the environment.
The aim of the new VES is to reduce not only carbon emissions, but also four other pollutants (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter), which get spewed out into the atmosphere, causing major damage to the environment.
Model | CEVS Band | Rebate/Surcharge | VES Band | Rebate/Surcharge |
BMW 5 Series 530i | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic i-VTEC CVT | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic Hatchback | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Honda HR-V 1.5 DX CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Jazz | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Vezel 1.5X CVT | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Vezel Hybrid 1.5X | A1 | $30,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Hyundai Elantra AD 1.6 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Kia Cerato K3 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Mazda3 Sedan 1.5 | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Mitsubishi Attrage 1.2 CVT | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota C-HR 1.2 Turbo | N.A | N.A | C1 | $10,000 Surcharge |
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota Harrier | B | Neutral | C1 | $10,000 Surcharge |
Toyota Prius Hybrid 1.8 CVT | A1 | $30,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota Vios | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Volkswagen Golf TSI | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Some of these cars retain their rebates or surcharges. But for the most part, more than 50 percent of this list will see a substantial increase in taxes.
So how does this affect your car-buying decision?
For starters, the $30,000 rebate for the Toyota Prius Hybrid used to be a big draw for those looking for an eco car but now that it has been bumped down to the neutral band, car buyers will have to fork out an additional $30,000 in order to own one.
So how does this affect your car-buying decision?
For starters, the $30,000 rebate for the Toyota Prius Hybrid used to be a big draw for those looking for an eco car but now that it has been bumped down to the neutral band, car buyers will have to fork out an additional $30,000 in order to own one.
And if you've been earnestly waiting for Borneo Motors to launch the Toyota C-HR, now's the time to get it since it currently sits in the Neutral (B) VES band. It won't stay that way for long, though. As of July 2018, the C-HR will be shifted into the C1 VES band, which comes with a $10,000 surcharge. Yikes.
The bottom line is this. If you're looking to buy a new car in 2018, be prepared to fork out more cash and take the time to consider all your options before jumping into a new 10-year relationship.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Electric car rebates - Tax incentives to boost ownership
7 reasons why your next car should be an electric car
6 things to note before you renew your COE for five or 10 years
A simple guide to COE renewal: How & when you should you renew
Should I renew my car COE in 2020?
The bottom line is this. If you're looking to buy a new car in 2018, be prepared to fork out more cash and take the time to consider all your options before jumping into a new 10-year relationship.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Electric car rebates - Tax incentives to boost ownership
7 reasons why your next car should be an electric car
6 things to note before you renew your COE for five or 10 years
A simple guide to COE renewal: How & when you should you renew
Should I renew my car COE in 2020?

More than half of the cars in this list face a hike in taxes, no thanks to the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme. Find out how this affects you as a car buyer.
As of 1st January 2018, the outgoing Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme has been replaced with the new (and improved?) Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES). The aim of the new VES is to reduce not only carbon emissions, but also four other pollutants (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter), which get spewed out into the atmosphere, causing major damage to the environment.
Model | CEVS Band | Rebate/Surcharge | VES Band | Rebate/Surcharge |
BMW 5 Series 530i | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic i-VTEC CVT | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Honda Civic Hatchback | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Honda HR-V 1.5 DX CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Jazz | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Vezel 1.5X CVT | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Honda Vezel Hybrid 1.5X | A1 | $30,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Hyundai Elantra AD 1.6 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Kia Cerato K3 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Mazda3 Sedan 1.5 | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 | B | Neutral | B | Neutral |
Mitsubishi Attrage 1.2 CVT | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | A2 | $10,000 Rebate |
Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota C-HR 1.2 Turbo | N.A | N.A | C1 | $10,000 Surcharge |
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 CVT | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota Harrier | B | Neutral | C1 | $10,000 Surcharge |
Toyota Prius Hybrid 1.8 CVT | A1 | $30,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Toyota Vios | A4 | $5,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Volkswagen Golf TSI | A3 | $10,000 Rebate | B | Neutral |
Some of these cars retain their rebates or surcharges. But for the most part, more than 50 percent of this list will see a substantial increase in taxes. So how does this affect your car-buying decision?
For starters, the $30,000 rebate for the Toyota Prius Hybrid used to be a big draw for those looking for an eco car but now that it has been bumped down to the neutral band, car buyers will have to fork out an additional $30,000 in order to own one.
And if you've been earnestly waiting for Borneo Motors to launch the Toyota C-HR, now's the time to get it since it currently sits in the Neutral (B) VES band. It won't stay that way for long, though. As of July 2018, the C-HR will be shifted into the C1 VES band, which comes with a $10,000 surcharge. Yikes.
The bottom line is this. If you're looking to buy a new car in 2018, be prepared to fork out more cash and take the time to consider all your options before jumping into a new 10-year relationship.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Electric car rebates - Tax incentives to boost ownership
7 reasons why your next car should be an electric car
6 things to note before you renew your COE for five or 10 years
A simple guide to COE renewal: How & when you should you renew
Should I renew my car COE in 2020?
For starters, the $30,000 rebate for the Toyota Prius Hybrid used to be a big draw for those looking for an eco car but now that it has been bumped down to the neutral band, car buyers will have to fork out an additional $30,000 in order to own one.
And if you've been earnestly waiting for Borneo Motors to launch the Toyota C-HR, now's the time to get it since it currently sits in the Neutral (B) VES band. It won't stay that way for long, though. As of July 2018, the C-HR will be shifted into the C1 VES band, which comes with a $10,000 surcharge. Yikes.
The bottom line is this. If you're looking to buy a new car in 2018, be prepared to fork out more cash and take the time to consider all your options before jumping into a new 10-year relationship.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Electric car rebates - Tax incentives to boost ownership
7 reasons why your next car should be an electric car
6 things to note before you renew your COE for five or 10 years
A simple guide to COE renewal: How & when you should you renew
Should I renew my car COE in 2020?