22 August 2004	Sunday	05 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Aug 21: Various models of Toyota Corolla and Daihatsu Cuore have become costlier by Rs6,000-20,000 from August 21.

Indus Motors Company (IMC), the maker of these models, has increased the rates of Corolla Petrol XLI to Rs859,000 from Rs849,000, followed by a price hike in Diesel 2.OD Saloon to Rs1,209,000 from Rs1,189,000. Cuore CL is now priced at Rs355,000 as against Rs349,000, while CX version is now being booked at Rs409,000 from Rs399,000.

An authorized dealer on condition of anonymity said that IMC had not mentioned any reason for the price hike in its letter to the dealers.

The company had kept the prices of Corolla 1600cc, 1300cc GLI, Corolla standard 2.OD and Cuore Automatic unchanged, he added.

All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association chairman H.M. Shahzad has criticised the IMC's move of increasing prices without giving any authentic reason.

He said it appeared that the ministries concerned are deliberately overlooking the non-consumer friendly move made by the assemblers in the last few years. Besides, the Monopoly Control Authority has been playing the role of a silent spectator.

He claimed that the premium on Corolla Petrol version had reached Rs1.4 million, while on Diesel version it ranged between Rs2.2 and 2.4 million. The premium rate on Cuore hovers between Rs60,000 and Rs80,000 depending on the model.

Meanwhile, a dealer said that the delivery timing of Cuore ranged between six and seven months, while the rest of the Toyota models are being delivered in four to five months time. Only Automatic 1,600cc model is being delivered in a one month time, while 1,600cc manual model is being released to the prospective buyers in two months.