New-car prices in Malta

I am very surprised about the big difference between the prices of new cars in Malta and in the UK. After a visit to the motor fair I was astonished. I would like to give a couple of examples. The new BMW 1-series, the 120i, costs about £20,000 in the...

I am very surprised about the big difference between the prices of new cars in Malta and in the UK. After a visit to the motor fair I was astonished.

I would like to give a couple of examples. The new BMW 1-series, the 120i, costs about £20,000 in the UK while the Honda Accord 2.0i-Vtec Executive costs £19,000. In Malta the Honda Accord costs about Lm12,500 while, wait for it, the BMW 120i costs Lm20,500.

I cannot understand where this Lm8,000 difference in price comes from. The Honda Accord is a Japanese car and if I am not mistaken Japanese cars have higher duty than European cars in Malta.

Could anyone from the importer of BMW cars in Malta please explain where this huge price difference comes from? Is there any authority in Malta controlling these prices?

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