KARACHI, Jan 18: Except for truck, sales of entire auto sector remained under pressure during December 2001 in which sales of cars and motorcycles dropped by 8.12 and 14.6 per cent respectively as compared to November 2001.
Sales of tractors dropped by 28 per cent in December 2001 followed by decline in bus by 44 per cent and in light commercial vehicles (LCVs) by 21 per cent.
Sales of auto sector had shown a modest recovery in November 2001 following good news of calm in Afghanistan and its reconstruction.
“This time the standoff between India and Pakistan and hovering war clouds have been considered as main reason for buyers being reluctant to make fresh vehicle purchases both on cash and on leasing basis,” an auto maker cited the reason of low sales in December.
Sales of almost all vehicles have been under pressure since the September 11 tragedy particularly in Northern parts of the country coupled with poor economic indicators during July- December 2001.
An assembler said that situation on the country’s economic front may improve in months to come when Afghan and India-Pakistan issues were settled down and the results of tariff and quota concessions offered by the European Union (EU) on textile exports from January 1, 2002 started coming in.
Pledges of donor agencies for more grants and aids in months to come and rising foreign exchange reserves are expected to improve the country’s economic health. “These positive developments may bring back buyers’ confidence and sales are expected to grow up marginally in future,” an assembler hoped.
According to figures released by Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), car sales stood at 2,523 units in December 2001 as against 2,746 units in November.
Among the main gainers, sales of Daihatsu Cuore surged to 206 units in December from 25 units in November followed by Dewan’s Kia and Spectra to 252 units from 170 units and Suzuki Baleno to 75 units from 33 units. However, sales of Honda Civic nose-dived to 228 units from 610 units in November.
Sales of trucks increased to 67 units in December from 53 units in November due to sales of old stocks.
Sales of two wheelers (Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha) caved in to 9,047 units last month from 10,596 units in November while tractor sales (Fiat and MF) stood at 1,528 units from 2,111 units in November 2,001.
Sales of LCVs (Shehzore, Hilux, Ravi, Bolan and Potohar) fell to 481 units from 610 units while bus sales (Hino, Nissan and Mazda) remained low at 45 units from 80 units.