KARACHI, Jan 10: Sale of cars, pick-ups and two/three wheelers surged by 11.35, eight and 11 per cent while sale of trucks, buses and jeeps plunged by 7.6, 16 and 19 per cent in the first six months of 2010-2011 as compared to same period of last year.

According to figures released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers (PAMA), overall car sales (including Suzuki Bolan) increased to 59,646 units in July-December 2010 as compared to 53,565 units in the same period of 2009.

Irrespective of rising price of cars and surging food inflation, consumers’ passion for 1,300 and above cars remained buoyant, pushing up overall sales by 12 per cent to 27,252 units in July-December 2010 as compared to 24,335 units in the same period of 2009.

In this category, only Suzuki Liana sales fell by 65 per cent to 188 units as compared to 533 units.

The highly costly car Honda Civic topped with 26 per cent rise in sales to 2,918 units as compared to 2,312 units. An 18 per cent increase was recorded in Honda Civic sales to 3,957 units as compared to 3,359 units. Toyota Corolla sales showed scant rise of 3.24 per cent to 18,717 units as against 18,129 units.

Overall sale of 1,000cc cars also improved by 3.4 per cent to 11,361 units from 10,987 units despite drop in sales of Suzuki Cultus and Hyundai Santro by 2.4 and 100 per cent to 5,599 and zero sales and production figures respectively. The overall sale rose mainly because of 14.46 per cent rise in Suzuki Alto sales to 5,762 units as compared to 5,034 units.

In 800cc and below 1,000cc cars, overall sales rose by 15.3 per cent to 21,033 units as compared to 18,243 units due to a good back up support of 45.41 per cent jump in Daihatsu Cuore cars to 2,959 units as compared to 2,035 units. Suzuki Mehran and Bolan sales also surged by 5.5 and 24.17 per cent to 11,591 and 6,483 units as compared to 10,987 and 5,221 units.

All the car makers suffered sales drop during December 2010 as compared to November 2010 as most buyers preferred purchasing cars next year (in January) owing to change in registration and model year.

The entire bike and rickshaw sales went up to 388,215 units as compared to 349,542 units in which the sale volumes of Honda bikes stood at 262,943 units as compared to 227,726 units.

A 21 per cent increase was witnessed in Suzuki bikes to 9,128 units as compared to 7,552 units. Both Honda and Suzuki are popular brands in rural areas. Sale of Yamaha bikes had dropped by eight per cent to 55,906 units as compared to 60,875 units.

Sazgar and Qingqi three wheelers sales rose by 64 and 51 per cent to 7,482 and 7,086 units as compared to 4,567 and 4,695 units.

Around eight per cent more pick ups were sold in July-December 2010 to 8,072 units as compared to 7,479 units in the same period of 2009. Suzuki Ravi and Master pick ups sales had gone up by 17.2 and 108 per cent to 7,225 and 25 units as compared to 6,160 and 12 units respectively.

Among the losers, a total of 1,384 units of trucks were sold as compared to 1,498 units owing to negative performance by Hino, Master and Isuzu whose sales plunged to 833, 132 and 172 units as compared to 909, 155 and 209 units. Sales of only Nissan trucks posted growth of 9.7 per cent to 247 units as compared to 225 units.

The overall bus sales fell to 243 units from 289 units owing to 20 per cent drop in Hino sales to 188 units from 236 units. Sale of Isuzu bus rose by 19.6 per cent to 55 units from 46 units.

A 15.64 per cent fall in Fiat tractor sales to 12,233 units from 14,501 units made a slight negative impact on overall tractor sales, resulting in drop of 2.6 per cent to 32,743 units as compared to 33,609 units. Massey Ferguson sales grew by 7.34 per cent to 20,510 units as compared to 19,108 units.

An official in PAMA termed the rise in car sales during July-December 2010 unsatisfactory which is 25 per cent less than sales of 82,287 units and 78,759 units achieved in July-December period of 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

He said most car industries are running at 50 per cent capacity owing to thin demand in the market because of high food inflation and interest rate and low disposable income of consumers.

The official said truck sales was hit by under-invoiced import of Chinese trucks coupled with high price of locally made trucks on account of Yen and dollar appreciation against the rupee.

He said unsatisfactory public and private transport system is forcing people to own a bike, thus pushing up its sales.