KARACHI: Auto sector showed a dismal performance in terms of sales, except for 35 per cent increase in tractors during July-March 2012-2013 as compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

According to figures of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), passenger cars sale fell by 24.5pc followed by a drop in other segments --21pc in trucks, 7.5pc in buses, 31pc in pick-ups and 0.36pc in two and three-wheelers.

Indus Motor Company (IMC) launched locally-assembled Toyota Fortuner (SUV) ahead of general elections.

The company produced 101 vehicles in February 2013 which rose to 168 units in March 2013, making a cumulative production of 269 units in two months.

Due to good response, sales stood at 231 units in the last two months.

In pick-ups, Toyota Hilux sales continued to pick up to 3,178 in July-March 2012-2013 from 2,858 units. However, Master pick-up sales fell to 17 from 23 units.

Sigma Defender sales dropped to 296 from 327 units while Suzuki Ravi pick-up remained flat at 7,518 units as compared to 12,638 units.

A total of 85,083 units of passenger cars were sold in July-March 2012-2013 as compared to 112,721 units in the same period of last fiscal year.

Overall sales of Civic and City in July-March 2012-2013 swelled to 6,842 and 7,914 units from 3,747 and 4,252 units.

Toyota Corolla sales in July-March 2012-2013 fell by 32pc to 22,346 units from 32,814 units in same period last fiscal year.

Suzuki Cultus overall sales in the first nine months of current fiscal year dropped to 9,856 units from 10,598 units.

An eight per cent drop was seen in Mehran sales during July-March 2012-2013 sales of 23,559 units as compared to 25,583 units in same period last fiscal year.

Suzuki Bolan’s sales in July-March 2012-2013 showed 36pc drop to 9,688 units from 15,148 units.

Car sales volumes remained subdued due to influx of used imported CBU’s in 1HFY13, termination of non-Euro-II compliant cars (Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Cuore) and absence of taxi scheme.

Total bus sales plunged to 395 units in July-March 2012-2013 from 427 units in the same period last fiscal year due to decline in market leader Hino bus sales to 323 units from 383 units. However, Isuzu bus sales surged to 68 from 36 units.

While showing an overall decline in truck sales to total 1,356 units from 1,714 units, sales showed a mixed trend as Hino truck sales fell sharply to 614 units from 945 units while Nissan sales rose to 166 units from 155 units.

Master truck sales decreased to 364 units from 478 units while Isuzu sales went up to 212 units from 136 units.

Tractor sales (Fiat and Massey Ferguson) rose to 35,279 units in the last nine months from 28,169 units.

Out of three main bike makers, only Honda sales showed 9.65pc rise to 479,211 units as compared to 437,033 units while sale of DYL Motorcycles and Suzuki dropped to 45,978 and 13,563 units from 67,275 and 16,434 units.

Qingqi three-wheeler sales surged to 19,030 units from 17,320 units.