Tag: Proton

  • Proton X70, the low-cost SUV that never arrives after booking

    Proton X70, the low-cost SUV that never arrives after booking

    The Malaysian SUV Proton X70 was introduced in Pakistan in December 2020. Still, there are very few vehicles observed running on Pakistani roads, implying that the low-cost SUV may have failed in the country’s auto market.

    The SUV reached Pakistan at a difficult period when there were several import restrictions due to COVID-19 lockdowns, which hampered deliveries of the new Malaysian entrant in Pakistan’s burgeoning auto sector.

    Proton imported the X70 units in Pakistan when deliveries resumed as Malaysian facilities reopened. In fact, the company revealed at the beginning of this year that it had begun assembling the SUV in its local plant. The automaker even stated that it is restarting production at full capacity, which relieved some of its customers; nonetheless, buyers disclosed that they were not receiving the SUV on time.

    Unfortunately, a number of consumers who valued the business and ordered the vehicle are still waiting, including those who booked the latter about a year ago, and some have even cancelled their orders and gone for alternative options in the market that offer a quicker delivery.

    Read more: Here’s a look at the 2023 BMW 7 Series

    Being a new brand, the business could have taken a more strategic approach, as the Pakistani automobile market is dominated by Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki, brands that Pakistanis have tried and tested for years.

  • Petroleum sales increase by 23% in March, despite hefty oil prices

    Petroleum product sales rebounded in the last month after a dismal February with Oil marketing companies (OMC) witnessing an increase of 23 per cent in sales of petroleum products on a year-over-year (YoY) basis in March 2022.

    Overall petroleum sales in March 2022, increased to 1.82 million tonnes compared to 1.54 million tonnes in March 2021, as per the data released by Arif Habib Limited.

    The stability comeback shows a 19 per cent increase in overall OMC sales on a month-over-month (MoM) basis.

    OMC volume growth was driven by furnace oil, which climbed by 34 per cent on a YoY basis, followed by HSD volume growth of 29 per cent and MS volume growth of 13 per cent. MoM growth in OMC volumes followed a similar pattern, with FO taking the lead.

    Although the increase in furnace oil volumes was driven by increased furnace oil usage in the power sector due to low gas and Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) availability.

    The increase in HSD volumes was driven by increased demand from the transportation and agriculture sectors and increased usage in generators and the power sector.

    Moreover, the government’s price caps and the additional number of days in March compared to February were the main contributors to MoM growth in diesel and gasoline sales.

    Consequently, petroleum sales increased by 19 per cent on a YOY basis in 9MFY22, with double-digit increases for petroleum products.

    Diesel sales grew by 17 per cent, followed by 16 per cent increase for furnace oil and a 10 per cent growth for motor oil.

    While some are expecting a drop in petroleum sales due to the political turmoil and rising commodity prices, others say that higher oil consumption cannot be overturned as the summer is already here and people are likely to consume more electricity, also that the power sector may switch to furnace oil due to RLNG commitment defaults.

  • PAMA calls out federal govt for favouring ‘one specific car manufacturer’

    PAMA calls out federal govt for favouring ‘one specific car manufacturer’

    The latest Auto Development Policy (ADP) has paved the way for several new companies to enter the Pakistani auto market. Companies like Regal Motors, KIA, Hyundai, Proton, and Changan entered the market following the ADP.

    During the 34th meeting of the Auto Industry Development Committee (AIDC), the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturer Association (PAMA) expressed concerns that the federal government favours one specific car manufacturer, a fresh entrant in Pakistan.

    A PAMA official said, “There is a new entrant in the market, selling and booking vehicles without establishing a production plant in the country. Under ADP 2016-2021, the new entrants can import only 100 complete built-up (CBU) units at 50% duty for marketing and production purposes. Meanwhile, the companies have to pay complete duty on the 101st vehicle.”

    According to media reports, PAMA members have asked the Engineering Development Board (EDB) in a letter that “when will the benefits for new entrants will end?”

    PAMA further said in the letter: “Under the ADP, the new entrants are allowed a concession period of 3 to 5 years; depending on each unique case, starting from the production date.”

    PAMA finds it problematic that the new entrants are reported, submitting revised business plans; even those who have already started commercial production.

    These revised plans may circumvent the incentive period that could be more than three or five years.

    It is pertinent to note that the statement comes at a time when businessman Javed Afridi, who has brought MG to Pakistan, alleges that “As new entrants bring in exciting new models at far lower prices, instead of competition, we expect maligning campaigns and baseless rumours. While we know that competition is an unfamiliar phenomenon in Pakistan’s automobile industry, we invite everyone to join in a fair competition to serve Pakistani consumers with a bigger and better variety of vehicles at lower prices.”

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  • Affordable SUV gifted to Imran Khan by ex-Malaysian PM to be launched in Pakistan market

    Affordable SUV gifted to Imran Khan by ex-Malaysian PM to be launched in Pakistan market

    Malaysian auto giant Proton has collaborated with Al-Haj — the makers of FAW automobiles in Pakistan — to launch its crossover SUV X70 by December along with a sedan named Saga.

    According to reports, the said cars, that are actually Chinese manufacturer Geely’s vehicles directly imported and licensed by Proton for the Malaysian market, will be offered in completely built-up (CBU) form in Pakistan.

    The company will start assembling the cars locally in the year 2021.

    X70 is powered by a 1.8 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 182 horsepower, 285 newton/meters of torque, and comes mated to a 6-speed automatic or a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The vehicle will be available in both Front-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel-Drive forms.

    The car is loaded with features such as an air purifier system, rear air vents, automatic dual-zone climate control, steering wheel switches, tilt, and telescopic adjustment, advanced gauge cluster with an LCD information screen, central door locking with auto-lock, a push-start button and a myriad of other modern features. Given that the X70 is a compact crossover SUV, it will go up against the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson.

    The X70, back in December 2019, was gifted to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan by former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad.

    The other car, Saga, is a compact sedan that has recently entered its 4th generation. Saga features a 1.3 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 94 horsepower, 120 newton/meters of torque and is mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed CVT automatic transmission.

    The vehicles will be launched at a relatively lower price for success in the Pakistani market.