
When the 2025-2026 budget reintroduced excise duties on hybrid and electric vehicles, some motorists hoped the measure might be softened over time. The government has now signalled that the duties are here to stay.During the post-budget debriefing on Saturday 4 July, Junior Minister of Finance Dhaneshwar Damry set out the reasons for maintaining these duties. His explanation focused less on revenue and more on how Mauritius generates the electricity that powers its vehicles.The emissions argumentDamry noted that the transport

Alalila 2.0 powered by Uber launched on 25 March 2026 without formal NLTA approval. The government has flagged this as a concern and is now developing a regulatory framework. But whilst the service rolls out, two very different perspectives on its impact have emerged.The Commuters ViewFor everyday commuters, Uber addresses a real problem. You can now book a ride with transparent, upfront pricing through an app instead of negotiating fares at the roadside. The service uses licensed PSVL drivers, so you're not
The 2026 budget speech has brought some changes to how Mauritians own, register and operate vehicles. If you're a car enthusiast, a business owner, or simply someone who relies on your vehicle daily, these measures will affect you in ways both practical and financial. Let's unpack what's happened and what it means.The Cost of Keeping That Special Number PlateOne of the most immediate changes is the new annual fee on old and personalised registration marks. If your vehicle sports a
Driving requires your full attention. It sounds obvious, yet the temptation to glance at a notification or fire off a quick message whilst behind the wheel remains a daily reality for many. As of today, 10 June 2026, Mauritius has made that habit considerably more costly.What Has Changed?The number of penalty points for using a handheld phone or microphone whilst driving has increased from a range of 3 to 6 points, to a new range of 5 to 10 points, effective from 10 June 2026. This
It has become almost impossible to open Facebook these days without being confronted by yet another devastating road accident here in Mauritius. A familiar name, a shared post, a community in shock. What once felt like tragic but isolated incidents now feels like a relentless, weekly drumbeat of loss that our island simply cannot keep ignoring.By 28 May 2026, Mauritius had already recorded 57 road deaths from 54 fatal accidents. With seven months of the year still to go, 2026 is on track to
The Flic-en-Flac Bypass has been a long time coming and a genuine improvement for commuters travelling to and from the west of Mauritius. The road was designed to ease long-standing congestion around Cascavelle and Flic-en-Flac, improving overall connectivity across the region. For most drivers, it has done exactly that.The hill section, however, quickly earned the nickname "the Cascavelle Racetrack" among locals. The name took on a grimmer dimension in late December 2025 when a video circulating on social media showed
There is something quietly alarming about a brand-new car sitting in a dealer's lot for months on end. It has never been driven, never been loved, and yet it is already costing money. This is the reality facing the automotive market right now, and it is a problem that touches everyone from the importer to the everyday buyer.How Did We Get Here?The short answer is taxation. Following a revision of excise duties that came into effect in June 2025,
When the United States slapped a 25% tariff on all imported cars on 3 April 2026, most headlines focused on the pain: higher prices for American consumers, supply chain disruption, and tension with trading partners. But for a small island economy like Mauritius, there is a genuinely interesting upside hiding in all that noise. Let us explain.What Just Happened in the US?The Trump administration's tariff, which officially came into force on 3 April, applies to all foreign-made vehicles entering the American market,
If you filled up your diesel tank before Wednesday this week, consider yourself fortunate. The Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) confirmed on the evening of Tuesday, 24 March 2026 that the price of diesel in Mauritius will increase by 10%, moving from Rs 58.95 to Rs 64.80 per litre. Petrol prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs 58.45 per litre. It is not a small bump, and for anyone who relies on a diesel vehicle for their daily commute, their business, or their livelihood, it is news that
The first two months of 2026 have delivered a sobering message to the Mauritian automotive industry. With just 5,175 vehicles registered between January and February, the market has retreated by 20% compared to the same period in 2025, when 6,480 vehicles were on the books. Against a backdrop of sweeping fiscal reforms introduced in the 2025/2026 national budget, this sharp contraction is not entirely surprising. But understanding what lies behind it, and where the market goes from here, matters for everyone from dealers and importers to
If you've recently driven past a filling station and enjoyed the fact that prices haven't moved much yet, don't get too comfortable. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran that escalated in early 2026 isn't just a faraway geopolitical story. For Mauritian motorists, it may not have reached the pump just yet, but the signs are there that it's only a matter of time.Here's why, and what it means for you.It all comes down to one stretch of
Mauritius has started 2026 with a worrying spike in drink and drug driving cases, and Government is moving towards a firmer response. Cabinet has approved drafting instructions for legal amendments that could bring two major changes.One is systematic vehicle seizure when a driver tests positive for alcohol and or drugs. The other is a process where the Commissioner of Police could seek immediate suspension of a driver’s licence through an ex parte application before a judge in chambers, rather
The opening weeks of 2026 have already brought sobering news for road safety in Mauritius.As of 16 January, ten people had lost their lives in nine road accidents since the start of the year. This is double the number recorded over the same period in 2025. The incidents involved a mix of road users, including motorists, pedestrians and two-wheel riders, highlighting that risk on Mauritian roads is not limited to one group.While early-year statistics can fluctuate, the increase is significant enough
Mauritius’ 2025 vehicle registration figures reveal a market that reacted quickly to changes in taxes and duties. To support this analysis, two reference charts are attached at the end of this article: Registration of New and Second-Hand Vehicle in December 2025 and Registration of New Vehicles in December 2025 by Make, Type and Number. These charts provide helpful context for understanding how registrations evolved toward the end of the year and how different segments performed.Total vehicle registrations for 2025 reached 38,062 units, made
Mauritius is getting serious about road safety. With road deaths climbing and dangerous driving becoming all too common, the government is reintroducing a penalty points system as part of the new Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2025. But will it work this time?Let’s break it down and see how other countries have fared with similar systems.What’s Changing for Drivers?The new penalty points system is far more advanced than the short-lived version from 2013. Here’s what Mauritian motorists
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