KARACHI: Japanese and Chinese bike assemblers on Thursday raised the prices of motorcycles by Rs1,000-7,000 citing rupee depreciation against the dollar and raw materials becoming pricier.

Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMCL) increased the price of SD110 ECO, GD110S, GS150 and GS150SE to Rs111,400, Rs136,000, Rs143,500 and Rs163,500 from Rs103,400, Rs131,000, Rs138,500 and Rs158,500 respectively.

However, in a circular to its authorised dealers, the company did not mention the reasons behind the price hike.

In October 2017, PSMCL had increased the prices of various bikes by Rs5,000. Pak Suzuki produced and sold 10,552 and 10,442 units in July-Dec 2017 as compared to 9,952 and 9,075 units in same period in 2016.

In January, 2018 Atlas Honda Limited (AHL) had increased the price of three models of its motorcycles by Rs500-1,000. In October 2017, AHL made a paltry increase of Rs 500 in CG125 model. The company, however, had not passed on the falling rupee impact on its CD-70cc bike to the consumers keeping its price intact at Rs 63,500 for almost three years.

Some Chinese bike assemblers also issued letters to their dealers on Thursday regarding the increase in prices by Rs 1,000-1,500 for 70cc-125cc bikes with effect from February 15, 2018.

They attributed the increase to persistent hike in raw material prices and soaring petroleum prices.

They informed their dealers that they might further increase prices in view of rupee devaluation against the dollar and increase in petroleum prices.

In October last year, Chinese assemblers had raised the prices of two-wheelers by Rs1,000-1,500 on various models.

Chairman Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers (APMA), Mohammad Sabir Sheikh said bike prices may remain under pressure in coming months in case the rupee continues to lose its strength against the dollar, making the imports of parts and accessories costlier.

Increasing trend in petrol price would further encourage buyers towards purchase of two-wheelers, he added.

Rising demand for bikes can be gauged from the 26 per cent jump in imports of completely- and semi-knocked down kits for local bike assembly to $52 million in July-Dec 2017 from $41mn in same period 2016, figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed.

AHL record sale:

AHL on Thursday celebrated record sales of over 100,000 units in January 2018 alone, breaking the previous highest sale of 95,650 units recorded in August 2017.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018