Car sales rise

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

KARACHI: Sales of cars assembled locally rose 55 per cent to 60,081 units during the four months to October from 38,862 a year ago, according to figures of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA).

In 1,300cc and above, Toyota Corolla remained the most sought-after car as its sales swelled to 18,424 units from 12,645.

Combined sales of Honda Civic and City rose to 8,059 units from 6,622. However, volumes of Civic, which has been struggling due to competition from Corolla, are expected to dry out the in coming months in anticipation of new model’s launch in July 2016.

Also read: Major carmakers to introduce new models next year

Backed by Punjab taxi scheme, Suzuki Bolan sales soared to 13,019 units from 4,228. Sales of other brands of the car maker rose, too, as Mehran sales increased to 11,849 units from 8,664, Swift to 1,298 from 1,223, WagonR to 2,569 from 1,288, Cultus to 4,860 from 4,245 units.

Mohammad Tahir Saeed of Topline Securities said taxi scheme, low interest rates and overall improvement in the economic situation played a crucial role in lifting car sales.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015

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Naveed khan

Nov 12, 2015 09:14am

Unfortunate to say that we can built Jets but not locally manufactured care .

Recommend 0

Atif

Nov 12, 2015 10:11am

Most of these locally manufactured cars including Ravi, Bolan, Cultus, Mehran,and Swift are globally retired. There is an urgent need to upgrade local models in line with international market and provide safety features. Automotive safety must not be neglected

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Umair

Nov 12, 2015 10:19am

Please give us CARS not these CANS.

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Rizwan

Nov 12, 2015 10:26am

@Naveed khan True

Recommend 0

Nov 12, 2015 10:53am

Pak auto industry in 4 steps; 1. Use all means necessary to get the GoP to set and actually implement extreme trade barriers with regards to the auto industry (by far the hardest, most complicated, & expensive part). 2. Import 4 boxes of finished auto parts (tightening the screws does not count as local manufacturing) 3. Remove parts from the 4 boxes and fit them together to make 1 piece (tighten the screws) 4. Sell like mad at crazy prices because there is actually no other way for the locals to buy a car

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concerned Citizen

Nov 12, 2015 10:58am

Unfortunately due to the ridiculously priced cars in pakistan the middle class is left with no option except to buy these pieces of junk. If the local companies cant provide better assembled cars to the people it is time to remove tariffs from imports and bring the competition in the automotive industry. This is the only way quality of cars will improve in this country.

Recommend 0

MirA1

Nov 12, 2015 10:58am

When will we work on infrastructure, road, transport system? We got to progress keeping in mind these rise in sales. And by progress I DO NOT mean EXPENSIVE CORRUPT METRO PROJECTS!

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ali

Nov 12, 2015 11:01am

The huge amount of taxes imposed by govt of Pakistan on these cars wouldnt allow manufacture to try new models instead of selling old pieces with few modifications.

Recommend 0

jahanzeb

Nov 12, 2015 11:15am

pakistan will remain a backward nation. please give nawaz sharif an other 5 years

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countryman

Nov 12, 2015 11:21am

its good that the business is increasing, along this, it would be interesting to give out the improvement in road network in cities that has to take these increased no of cars

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manzoor

Nov 12, 2015 11:23am

come on yar...plz people move on start purchasing a car like mehran having no facilities what so ever

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analyses

Nov 12, 2015 01:00pm

There are 60,000 new cars every year on Karachi roads. Whereas there is 0 addition in the roads or infrastructure network in Karachi. The roads are the same since 10 years ago in Musharraf/Mustafa Kamal era. Addition of a single car directly increases the daily traffic mess and turmoil. If this situation continues, we will be better off walking than driving anywhere in Karachi!

Recommend 0

KAlam

Nov 12, 2015 02:10pm

Locally assembled cars lack safety features and fuel efficiency. Regulators should urge them to equip the cars with safety features of modern times.

Recommend 0

Nov 12, 2015 04:44pm

I wish the Govt can read all the comments here that everyone resents the same feeling that our locally produced cars are piece of junk with no safety in mind & poor assembly...Time to encourage other western manufacturers to open their assembly plants in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Akhtar

Nov 12, 2015 05:02pm

The Toyota Corrolla is an outdated model. It is not even sold anymore in western countries.

Recommend 0

Imran

Nov 12, 2015 06:55pm

@Akhtar That's news to me, Corolla's are one of the best selling cars in it's class in North America. So we have all these cars added to system, do we have roads to handle this much traffic or we are just exacerbating the chaos that already exists.

Recommend 0

Strange

Nov 12, 2015 06:59pm

India moved away from this model and started their own cars manufacturing. Pakistani politicians put heavy taxes on imports to support so called local car industry for last 2 decades. However this is just a fancy slogan as no effect was carried out to do actual technology transfer. Infect we are just doing car assembling. Assembling old technological model in Pakistan. Same companies are providing advance versions of Toyota/Suzuki/Honda in other countries around us and we are getting cheap quality version. There is no competition in the Market too as only few Brands are allowed. Government policy makers are just putting the money in their pockets by making such policies and letting companies run. In past there were so called attempts to change the car manufacturing policy but it turned out a way to extort more money from car manufacturing companies by government.

Recommend 0

Capt Faraz

Nov 12, 2015 07:15pm

Until n unless no competition........no quality is expected. There is a need to launch new companies for competition like Nissan, German and European brands.

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M.Saeed

Nov 12, 2015 07:45pm

Its a pity that our leaders have no sight for safety in their lust for big figures of sales. So far, they have failed to introduce basic safety features in the lower priced cars.

Recommend 0

Nov 12, 2015 09:24pm

this indicates that we are a rich and fully developed nation.

Recommend 0

J R Ahmad

Nov 12, 2015 09:38pm

While the industry employs thousands directly and indirectly but still they can improve the quality of cars. Safety and low emission are top priority in developed countries. Witnessing recalls by totyota and other major brands in UK and USA I am yet to see something of that sort happening in Pakistan, are people driving potential death traps. Does suzuki mehran come with seat belts I doubt it, they weren't there when I left Pakistan in 2008.

Recommend 0

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