Sri Lanka sees more premium car registrations

Sri Lanka recorded 20 brand-new premium vehicle registrations in July, while pre-owned premium registrations declined to 95 units, reflecting a moderation in demand during the month.

Mercedes-Benz remained the leading premium marque, recording 49 registrations across brand-new and pre-owned vehicles. Audi followed with 32 registrations, while BMW recorded 19 and Lexus 11.

Notable registrations during the month included two Porsche Macans, one Cayenne and one Taycan, along with one Mercedes-Benz Maybach S580, five G-Class SUVs, one Bentley Flying Spur, one Ferrari 488 GTB, one Lamborghini Temerario and one Lamborghini Urus.

Far from being mere symbols of wealth, these vehicles are also significant revenue generators for the Treasury. With tax burdens frequently exceeding 200% of import value, premium vehicle owners contribute substantially to government revenue.

Meanwhile, SUV and crossover registrations declined to 4,439 units in July from 5,933 units in June. Both brand-new and pre-owned registrations weakened during the month, reflecting softer demand following the exceptionally strong volumes recorded earlier in the year.