Thanh Cong Motor Vietnam Joint Stock Company had called on the government to cut the fee to support an industry affected by Covid-19.

The ministry has been told to complete the task this month.

In June, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) had proposed a similar 50-percent cut in registration fees, but the ministry had rejected it.

Last year too the government had cut the fee by half, and it cost VND6 trillion ($260.9 million).

In the first six months of this year VAMA members, who account for more than 95 percent of the market, saw sales fall 30 percent year-on-year to 102,720 vehicles.

Car manufacturers fear the global effects of Covid would have a long-term impact on people's incomes and auto demand.

VAMA expects sales to decline by more than 15 percent this year. Last year, they had risen by 11.7 percent to 322,322 units.