KARACHI: The newly launched Honda CB150F bike is not available in the showrooms of the authorised dealers in Karachi.

Some dealers, who have only one display piece, are asking buyers to book the bike and take the delivery in 45 days tentatively. The two-wheeler carries an official price tag of Rs159,000.

However, other dealers are insisting customers to pay Rs180,000 thus alarming them that the company may increase the price in future. The balance amount would be paid when delivery is made.

A dealer told Dawn on Tuesday said Atlas Honda Limited (AHL) was not supplying the new bike as per the demand despite its launch in the first week of this month. “The company has given only two to three bikes to every showroom and now it is asking us to stop taking advance booking of the two-wheeler,” he added.

Various Honda bikes like CG-125 and Honda CD70cc have been in limelight for the last two years either of low supplies or rising premium on the spot delivery despite increase in production.

AHL has either failed to meet the demand or the dealers are creating artificial shortage in order to take heavy premiums on spot delivery.

The company has increased the production capacity to 1.35 million units a year from 750,000 units after completion of the second production line at its Sheikhupura plant.

Overall production of Honda bikes soared to 798,640 units in July-April 2016-17 as compared to 674,851 units in the same period last year, suggested figures of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2017