KARACHI: A total of 3,130 trucks were sold in July-April 2014-15 compared to 1,975 a year earlier, according to Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA).

Sales of market leader Hino rose to 1,160 units from 859, followed by 692 units of Nissan compared to 276. Master and Isuzu truck sales increased to 630 and 648 units compared to 420 each.

By contrast, sales of locally produced buses fell marginally to 448 units during the 10-month period from 481 during the same period last year. Hino sold 397 buses compared to 422 last year. Isuzu sales plunged to 39 from 48.

A leading assembler attributed the rising sales to the imposition of age limit on used trucks which were earlier being imported under the garb of water sprinklers and water bowsers. Once the law had been implemented their import declined to almost nil and created room for local assemblers to fill demand and supply gap.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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