KARACHI, Nov 17: Sales of cars remained sluggish in October as compared to September due to thin buying particularly in Balochistan and NWFP coupled with cautious spending approach, adopted by the buyers, specially after September 11 incidents in the US.

Overall car sales fell to 3,485 units in October from 3,633 units in September and 3,808 units in August. In October 2000, assemblers sold 3,724 units.

“People are still cautious in their spending. They have restricted their buying after September 11 incidents. Currently they are reviewing the situation,” an assembler said. Besides, economy on the whole is also not good as both exports and imports are not picking up to the desired level. Money circulation is also going down, he added.

Auto sales have been somewhat under pressure after September 11 incidents in the US followed by US retaliation on Afghanistan. Assemblers said the sales in northern parts of the country had been affected to some extent.

“Sales are still sustaining in Sindh and Punjab as compared to nominal declines in northern areas,” an official in a local company said, adding some buying by NGOs has been seen in northern areas.

Car sales through leasing business, which account for 40-45 per cent of total car sales, has also felt the pinch but the percentage is very nominal to quote, the official said. In this scenario, people still feel save to buy through this option.

Rising incidents of cars and bikes snatching in the city are also the main reason in slashing the sales, compelling people to go slow for buying a new car. Instead consumers prefer to own a used car.

If on an average 20 cars (average price of Rs800,000 per unit each) and 15 bikes (average price of Rs50,000 per unit each) are snatched daily, then a total of Rs7 to Rs8 billion share has been eaten up by snatchers and car jackers, an assembler said.

According to the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), a total of 3,496 cars and 4,606 bikes were stolen and snatched during Jan-Oct 2,001 out of which 1,647 cars and 1,179 bikes were recovered.

Major setback in sales suffered by Suzuki Baleno as only 30 cars were sold in October as compared to 300 units in September. Sales of Daihatsu Cuore also plunged to 279 units last month as compared to 390 units in September. Consumers bought a total of 233 units of Suzuki Alto 1000cc in October as compared to 278 units in September. Santro plus sales caved in to 100 units from 131 units. Mehran 800cc maintained its demand, as sales jumped to 750 units in October as against 595 units in September.

Sales of other cars like Toyota Corolla improved to 552 units as against 545 units in September, while a total of 389 units of Honda Civic were sold in October as compared to 387 units in September. Sales of Honda City stood at 361 units as compared to 357 units in September.

Kia Classic and Spectra sales rose to 285 units last month from 189 units in September.

In July-October 2001, car sales, however, increased to 13,970 units as compared to 11,883 units in the same period of 2000.

Sales of two wheelers (Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha) also remained depressed as a total of 8,456 units were purchased by consumers in October as against 9,458 units in September. In October 2000, total bike sales were 11,312 units. In July-October 2001, 36,020 bikes were purchased by the consumers as against 34,558 units in the same period of 2000.

Tractor sales (Fiat and Millat) stood at 1,461 units in Oct as against 1,414 units in September. In Oct 2000, 2,076 tractors were sold. In July-Oct 2000, 5,664 units were sold as compared to 6,611 units in the same period of 2000.

In heavy vehicles, truck sales (Hinopak, Nissan, Mazda and Volvo) in October registered at 60 units as against 63 units in September. In October 2000, 111 trucks were sold out. In first four months of current fiscal, 240 trucks were purchased by transporters as against 342 units of last fiscal.