Tag: HACL

  • Car sales in Pakistan drop by 65% due to low purchasing power, supply chain disruptions

    Car sales in Pakistan drop by 65% due to low purchasing power, supply chain disruptions

    According to data from the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), passenger car sales in Pakistan experienced a significant decline of 65 per cent in January 2023 compared to the same period the previous year. This was attributed to a shortage of raw materials, low purchasing power, and price surges.

    With the exception of Suzuki’s Swift, sales of all other variants of cars, trucks, buses, tractors, pick-ups, and three-wheelers, as well as two-wheelers, also dropped in January 2023.

    The seven-month sales data for FY23 showed a 43 per cent drop compared to the same period last year, with passenger car sales decreasing by 65 per cent to 6,021 units. In January 2023, engine-wise sales data showed that sales of 1,300cc and above cars were recorded at 4,207 units, down 55.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Additionally, 1,000cc cars recorded sales of 1,214 units, a decrease of 55.2 per cent from the same period the previous year.

    In January 2023, sales of passenger cars with engines less than 1,000cc plummeted to 600 units, down 88 per cent from 4,820 units sold in the same period last year.

    Sales of Suzuki’s new Alto were particularly hard hit, dropping to 44 units from 3,864 units last year, as the company was unable to produce any due to raw material shortages. Commercial vehicle sales were also impacted, with buses and trucks declining to 470 units from 778 units in January 2022.

    Despite this, the sale of jeeps and pickups increased to 4,846 units from 3,625 units sold last year, largely due to an increase in sales of Honda BR-V and HR-V. Tractor sales, on the other hand, decreased to 3,406 units from 4,966 units in January 2022.

    Meanwhile, sales of rickshaws and motorcycles dropped to 109,558 units from 153,658 units in the same period last year. According to Topline Securities, Pakistan’s overall car sales, including those of non-PAMA members, stood at around 11,500 units, down 37 per cent from the previous month, primarily due to Pak Suzuki’s inability to produce due to the non-availability of CKD parts.

    In January 2023, the automotive industry in Pakistan experienced a 47 per cent year-on-year drop in sales, contributing to a 39 per cent decline in sales for the first seven months of FY23. According to Sunny Kumar, an analyst for Topline Securities, this is due to rising car prices, costly auto financing, and limited consumer purchasing power.

    Pak Suzuki (PSMC) was hit particularly hard, with sales falling to 2,946 units, the lowest level since April 2020, largely due to a credit letters issue. In contrast, Hyundai sales increased 81 per cent month-on-month, with Tuscon sales up 69 per cent and Sonata sales up 241 per cent in January 2023. In the tractor sector, Millat Tractors and Al-Ghazi Tractors recorded increased sales in January 2023 compared to the previous month.

    However, the industry’s overall sales have dropped by 53 per cent YoY to 14,919 units in 7MFY23, affected by floods, plant shutdowns, higher prices, and low consumer purchasing power.

  • Honda Pakistan to launch the long-awaited HR-V tomorrow

    Honda Pakistan to launch the long-awaited HR-V tomorrow

    The long-awaited all-new Honda HR-V will finally make its formal debut on Friday, according to Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL), which recently teased the crossover in a Facebook post and confirmed the unveiling.

    Honda Pakistan will offer two versions of the HR-V, the VTi and VTi S. The 1.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated (NA) petrol engine in the base model will produce 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. A 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine with 179 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque will power the second model.

    According to details, the Honda HR-V VTi is anticipated to cost between Rs6.3 and Rs6.5 million. The top variant would cost approximately Rs6.7 million.

    If this pricing is accurate, the Honda HR-V will be a fierce competitor for crossover SUVs that are already on the market. As Pakistani car buyers may favour a crossover over a pricey sedan, sales of Honda Civic and crossover SUVs from other automakers could also have a little impact.

    The sources have also stated that because bookings would begin immediately after the launch, the delivery of this car will begin in November 2022.

    Here are the features that the impending crossover may offer:

    • Traction control 
    • Hill start assist 
    • Stability control  
    • Dual tone side view mirrors + roof
    • Body coloured & black front grille
    • Automatic climate control 
    • Honda Sense
    • Four airbags

    For those who are unaware, the Honda HR-V is not a brand-new sight in Pakistan; local auto dealers have been offering hybrid versions of this vehicle, which are originally imported from Japan.

  • Pak Suzuki discontinues Bolan’s AC variant after one year

    Pak Suzuki discontinues Bolan’s AC variant after one year

    Pak-Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) will no longer sell the Suzuki Bolan’s AC variant. After almost 15 years, this variation was finally introduced last year, and tragically, its production will cease once again.

    The company’s decision to stop producing the AC variant of the Suzuki Bolan is a blatant indication that it has failed to pique consumer interest for a variety of reasons, some of which include its inflated cost and the extraordinarily uncomfortable ride.

    Despite all of these factors, other variants of Suzuki Bolan are extremely common in Pakistan and are seen running on almost every road and in every city.

    The first Suzuki Bolan with AC was introduced in 2006-2007, however it was a flop due to overheating, poor engine performance, and subpar AC.

    Moreover, the Bolan’s engine is housed underneath the driver’s seat, which makes it extremely challenging for the driver and front passenger to sit, particularly when the engine is hot.

    Despite expectations that the AC variation would be successful this time, it was not able to attract buyers.

  • Honda reduces car prices to pass on the forex impact

    Honda reduces car prices to pass on the forex impact

    Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) has reduced the prices of its entire lineup, like its rival Toyota.

    According to a notification from the automaker, the latest price reduction is an outcome of the Pakistani rupee’s strengthening versus the US dollar, and the company wants to pass on the forex impact to its “valued” customers.

    Here are the new prices of Honda cars in Pakistan, effective from August 17:

    Model  Old invoice New price Decrease
    City Manual 1.2L Rs4,049,000 Rs3,769,000 Rs280,000
    City CVT 1.2L Rs4,199,000 Rs3,899,000 Rs300,000
    City CVT 1.5L Rs4,439,000 Rs4,139,000 Rs300,000
    City Aspire Manual 1.5L Rs4,609,000 Rs4,299,000 Rs310,000
    City Aspire CVT 1.5L Rs4,799,000 Rs4,479,000 Rs320,000
    BR-V CVT S Rs5,299,000 Rs4,939,000 Rs360,000
    Civic 1.5L M CVT Rs6,799,000 Rs6,349,000 Rs450,000
    Civic 1.5L Oriel M CVT Rs7,099,000 Rs6,599,000 Rs500,000
    Civic RS 1.5L LL CVT Rs8,099,000 Rs7,549,000 Rs550,000
    Honda Cars Latest Price List – August 2022

    Despite the most recent drop, the ‘cheapest’ Honda car still costs more than Rs3.7 million, making it out of reach for low-income individuals.

  • Honda Atlas announces price hike instead of fixing delivery issues

    Honda Atlas announces price hike instead of fixing delivery issues

    Honda Atlas, like its counterpart Indus Motor Company, announced a price hike for the second time in less than two months, increasing ex-factory prices up to Rs170,000, claiming rupee devaluation as the cause for transferring the burden to the consumers.

    The ‘latest generation’ of Honda city in Pakistan is now priced at Rs3,264,000 after getting a hike of Rs135,000. Aspire 1.5 variants of Honda city witnessed a hike of nearly Rs150,000 in their previous rate.

    Meanwhile, Civic prices increased by Rs150,000 across all three variants: the Civic 1.5L CVT, Civic 1.5L Oriel M CVT, and Civic RS 1.5L CVT. The top variant of Honda civic RS 1.5 LL CVT from May 1 will be offered at a price of Rs6,649,000 which was previously sold at Rs6,499,000.

    Honda’s MPV, the BRV, is now priced at Rs4,249,000 after a price increase of Rs170,000. BRV was earlier sold at Rs4,079,000.

    Read more: Toyota Pakistan announces another massive price hike for all cars

    Also, these prices are exclusive of freight charges and any government tax applicable at the time of delivery that will be paid by the consumer.

  • Car sales up by 53.7 per cent in 2022, despite repeated price hikes

    Car sales up by 53.7 per cent in 2022, despite repeated price hikes

    The latest data provided by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturing Association (PAMA) shows that overall car sales climbed by 53.78 per cent during the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2021-22 (July-March) compared to the same period in the past financial year.

    Keeping in view the recent figures, 172,612 vehicles were delivered in the time period under consideration, compared to 112,244 cars in the previous year. In March 2022, the country’s car sales climbed by 33.28 per cent on a year-over-year (YoY) basis when compared to the same month in 2021.

    In March 2022, car sales soared to 22,799 units, up from 17,105 units in the same month the previous year. considering the breakdown of the numbers, around 26,830 combined units of Honda Civic and City were sold in the fiscal year 2021-22, compared to 18,816 units in 2021, indicating a 42.59 per cent increase.

    The sale of Toyota Corolla and Yaris sedans increased by 24.93 per cent in the same time, rising to 43,695 units from 34,975 units the previous year. Suzuki Swift sales, on the other hand, fell by 73.78 per cent, from 1,896 units in July-March 2020-21 to 497 units. The drop witnessed in sales of Suzuki Swift was due to the production cut of the older Swift, which was scheduled to be replaced by the fourth generation in February of this year.

    Read more: Toyota Pakistan records highest monthly sales, selling 7,132 vehicles in March 2022

    With 53,241 units sold so far in the fiscal year 2022, Pakistan’s smallest engine size vehicle, the 660cc Alto, is now the most popular. It is worth noting that the mini hatchback is also the country’s ‘cheapest’ four wheeler from the big three.

  • Honda Pakistan announces a massive price hike for all cars

    Following the price hike trend by several automakers in Pakistan, Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) has increased the prices of all cars by Rs 250,000 to Rs 400,000. The new prices announced by Honda are effective from today, March 26, 2022.

    Considering the flagship and most popular sedan from Honda, the new Honda Civic 2022 1.5L Turbo M-CVT, Oriel 1.5L Turbo M-CVT, and RS 1.5L Turbo LL-CVT will now cost Rs 5.399 million, Rs 5.649 million, and Rs 6.499 million, after the hike of Rs 300,000, Rs 250,000 and Rs 350,000 respectively.

    Top variants of Honda City, including City 1.5L CVT, 1.5L City Aspire Manual, and 1.5L Aspire CVT now cost Rs 3.446m, Rs 3.579 million, and Rs 3.749 million, after a jump of Rs 295,000 to Rs 300,000.

    The new price of Honda City 1.2L MT and CVT variant is Rs 3.129 million and Rs 3.249 million, which saw a surge of Rs 400,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively. After an increase of Rs 390,000, Honda’s MPV BR-V CVT S is now priced at Rs 4.079 million.

    It is worth noting that the retail price is applicable on orders made till November 2021 as well as full payment received by March 31. The current retail price is also applicable on back order and full payment till March 24 with expected delivery in June.

    Moreover, Honda revealed that 50 per cent of the price increase would be applicable on back order with expected delivery till June and full payment received till April 30.