The Used Vehicle Importers Association has since its inception, always stressed that its members should pursue the best quality standards and requirements both for the sake of the consumer and the reputation of genuine members alike.
After suspending two of its members who have allegedly been found to have sold tampered vehicles, the Council of the Used Vehicle Importers Association has unanimously agreed to implement stricter measures in order to ensure that such instances do not transpire in the future.
One of the said measures is that, apart from the current due diligence process that is already in place, the Association will commit to introduce a yearly random check on members with the aim of ensuring that they are being compliant with the respective standards. This will serve as an internal audit excercise to make sure that members of the association are genuine, trustworthy and compliant with the relevant laws applicable to car dealerships.
Additionally, the Used Vehicle Importers Association will also meet members individually to make sure that such issues would not be faced in the future, and to make sure that all members are compliant with UVIA standards and trustworthy.
As the official representative of Vehicle Importers, UVIA encourages any person who has been subjected to tempered milage to report their respective Importer to the respective authorities, including MCCAA, the Malta Police Force, and Transport Malta.
The UVIA continues to condemn any form of abuse by car dealerships, which unfortunately is resulting in negative reputation to other car dealers which have always acted diligintely and genuinely.
The UVIA Council will be meeting its members in the next days to communicate the above-mentioned measures and establish a robust process, in accordance and consultation with the respective authorities. In furtherance to this, UVIA will be launching an educational campaign which will serve to instruct the end customer on how to verify the mileage of a used Japan imported vehicle.
With the above in mind, the Association feels that the alleged actions of the suspended members have prejudiced the market at large and that genuine members, who exercise their going concern in a diligent manner, have faced severe difficulties when competing with the members that have been suspended. This is in view of the alleged fraudulent activity which if that which is being alleged actually ensued, it would have effectively necessitated a situation of unfair competition.
The Association reiterates that this alleged case is a matter in which documents, which are both requested by UVIA & by TM, were allegedly falsified.
On this basis the UVIA further highlights that it has a zero tolerance approach towards such alleged abuse.
