KARACHI: Despite appreciation of the rupee against the dollar, the Japanese and Chinese bike assemblers have raised prices of different models by Rs500-3,000.

United Auto Industries, the country’s second largest bike assembler, has increased the price by Rs500 on various models from 70cc-125cc, citing rising production cost on account of soaring raw material prices as mentioned in the letter sent to its authorised dealers. The new prices would be effective from Nov 5.

The company sold 98,363 units in 1QFY21 compared to 81,012 units in the corresponding period last year.

Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) has also jacked up the prices by Rs3,000 from Nov 1. The new price of GD110S, GS150, GS150E and GR150 is Rs181,000, Rs193,000, Rs210,000 and Rs287,000.

PSMCL in its letter to its authorised dealers has not mentioned the reason of price hike. The sales of Suzuki bikes during 1QFY21 fell to 4,583 units from 5,018 units in same period last year.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2020