Automotive industry in Pakistan

Pakistan’s automotive industry is the one of the fastest growing industries of the country, accounting for 4% of Pakistan's GDP and employing a workforce of over 1,800,000 people. Currently there are 3200 automotive manufacturing plants in the country, with an investment of Rs. 92 billion (US$320 million) producing 1.8 million motorcycles and 200,000 vehicles annually. Its contribution to the national exchequer is nearly Rs. 50 billion (US$170 million). The sector, as a whole, provides employment to 3.5 million people and plays a pivotal role in promoting the growth of the vendor industry. Pakistan’s auto market is considered among the smallest, but fastest growing in South Asia. Over 180,000 cars were sold in the fiscal year 2014-15, rising to 206,777 units fiscal year 2015-16. At present, the auto market is dominated by Honda, Toyota and Suzuki. However on 19 March 2016, Pakistan passed the "Auto Policy 2016-21", which offers tax incentives to new automakers to establish manufacturing plants in the country. In response, Renault-Nissan, Kia Motors and Audi have expressed interest in entering the Pakistani market. Pakistan has not enforced any automotive safety standards or model upgrade policies. Obsolete vehicles including the Mehran, Bolan, Ravi, Cultus continue to be sold by Pak Suzuki.

History

1950s

Pakistan produced its first vehicle in 1953 at the National Motors plant in Karachi, according to the Ministry of Industries & Production. The plant was opened in conjunction with General Motors who arranged the facilities for the production of Vauxhall cars and Bedford trucks. Subsequently, buses, light trucks and cars would be assembled at the same plant. In the same year, Ford trucks partnered with Ali Automobiles where they introduced Ford Anglia, Ford pickups and the Ford Kombi. Exide batteries also began production in 1953. Haroon Industries partnered with Dodge Motors in 1956.

1960s

In 1961, Allwin Engineering introduced precision auto parts to the Pakistani auto market. In 1962, Lambretta partnered with Wazir Ali Engineering to begin production of the Lambretta TV200 scooter while Kandawala Industries introduced Jeep CJ 5, CJ 6, CJ 7.

1990s

The industry was highly regulated until the early 1990s. After deregulation, major Japanese manufacturers entered in the market thereby creating some competition in this sector. Assemblers of HINO Trucks, Suzuki Cars (1984), Mazda Trucks, Toyota (1993) and Honda (1994) in particular, entered once deregulation was introduced. Assembly of Daihatsu and Hyundai cars (1999) and various brands of LCVs and range of mini-trucks commenced recently.

2000s

In 2007, the automotive industry made up 2.8% of Pakistan's GDP which is likely to increase up to 5.6% in the next 5 years. It currently contributes 16% to the manufacturing sector which is predicted to increase 25% in the next 7 years. Many cars in the country have dual fuel options and run on CNG which is more affordable and cheaper than petrol in the country.

2010-present

From 1953 to 2011, the journey of auto industry has been rough, tough and sometime very smooth. Car industry saw boom in 2006-2007 when sales touched record peak of 180,834 thanks to rising car financing up to 70-80 per cent by banks due to low interest rates and rising rural buying. Since then the industry has been surviving hard to reach the same sales level amid high interest rates and Yen appreciation against the rupee but high farm income is giving much support to car sales. Good crops this year will keep the car sales brisk despite increase in prices.

The car industry has invested over Rs 20 billion in the last four to five years to meet growing demand. The direct employment in car industry hovers between 5,500-6,000 persons.Motorcycle production hit the country's record level of over 1.5 million units in 2010-2011 by the effort of Pervaiz Musharraf Government's decision that opened bike market to low cost Chinese bikes. Auto sector now employs 192,000 people directly and around 1.2 million indirectly and has Rs 98 billion of investments and contributes Rs 63 billion as indirect tax in the national exchequer.

Auto Sector remains the second largest payer of indirect taxes after the Petroleum Sector. In Pakistan's context there are 10 cars in 1,000 persons which is one of the lowest in the emerging economies which itself speaks of high potential of growth in the auto sector and more so in the car production. Rising per capita income with changing demographic distribution and an anticipated influx of 30 to 40 million young people in the economically active workforce in the next few years provides a stimulus to the industry to expand and grow

Historical production by year

Year	Data		0—50,000																																																		50,000—100,000																																																		100,000—150,000																																																		150,000—200,000																																																		> 200,000
1992	66,000
1993	76,000
1994	61,000
1995	44,000
1996	48,419
1997	41,585
1998	43,519
1999	46,761
2000	39,117
2001	46,538
2002	48,579
2003	74,274
2004	112,550
2005	150,016
2006	189,639
2007	195,688
2008	186,064
2009	100,468
2010	137,415
2011	153,114
2012	175,184
2013	134,849
2014	134,082
2015	180,713
2016	195,647

Cars

Pak Suzuki Motors

Pak Suzuki motors was once the market leader in Pakistan, with over 60% of market share and complete dominance of the small car sector however this figure has dropped considerably and JDM vehicles have overtaken Pak Suzuki owing to the fact of selling third rate vehicles with zero safety and minimal comfort features at very high prices since the past 30+ years.

The firm was founded in September 1982 as a joint venture between the government of Pakistan and Suzuki motor company Japan, formalising the arrangement by which Awami Auto Ltd. had produced the Suzuki SS80 from 1982. Suzuki originally owned 25% of the stock, and have gradually increased their holding; they now own 73.09%. Pak-Suzuki was a joint venture between the state-owned Pakistan Automobile Corporation (PACO), who had earlier overseen local assembly from kits. All vehicles produced and sold by Paksuzuki are globally retired models sourced from Suzuki Japan that do not meet any consumer safety standards or modern emission standards.

Models produced include:

• FX
• Mehran) (very basic version of the globally retired Second generation Suzuki Alto 1984–1988)
• Suzuki Alto (he Suzuki Alto HA12 chassis fitted with a 1982-1984 Suzuki F10A 970 cc engine. Discontinued in 2012)
• Baleno
• Cultus (basic version of the globally retired Suzuki Cultus Generation 2)
• Liana
• Suzuki Swift (trimmed down version of the international 2004-2010 Suzuki Swift 1.3 without safety features introduced in Pakistan after it was phased out elsewhere)
• Suzuki Wagon R
• Suzuki Carry (basic version of the Seventh generation (ST30/40/90) 1979–1985 Suzuki Carry)
• Suzuki Kizashi (Imported)
• Suzuki APV (Imported)

Honda Atlas

Honda Atlas Cars is a joint venture between Honda Motor Company Limited, Japan and the Atlas Group, Pakistan. The company was incorporated on November 4, 1992 and a joint venture agreement was signed on August 5, 1993. The company is listed on Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Stock Exchanges. On July 14, 1994, booking of Honda cars started at six dealerships in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Since then, the company has developed twenty one 3S dealers (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) twenty 2S dealers (Service and Spare Parts) and six 1S dealers (Spare Parts) network in all major cities of Pakistan.

Models produced include:

• Honda Accord
• Honda City
• Honda Civic
• Honda CR-V
• Honda HR-V

Indus Motor

Indus Motor is a joint venture between the House of Habib, Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan (TMC), and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan (TTC) for assembling, progressive manufacturing and marketing of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan since July 1, 1990. Indus Motor Company are Manufacturers, assemblers, distributors and importers of Toyota and Daihatsu vehicles, spare parts and accessories in Pakistan.

Models produced include:

• Corolla
• Hilux
• Vigo Champ
• Fortuner

Indus Motor also retails the following models imported from Japan:

• Camry
• Land Cruiser
• Prado
• RAV4
• Avanza
• Hiace
• Coaster
• Terios
• Prius

Ghandhara Nissan

The Ghandhara Nissan Limited (GNL), was incorporated in 1981 as a Private Limited Company having the sale licensee for the distribution of Nissan vehicles in CBU condition in Pakistan, later in 1992 it was converted into a Public Company listed in Karachi Stock Exchange. Ghandhara Nissan has Technical Assistance Agreement with Nissan, Japan and joint Venture Agreement with Nissan Diesel Company, Japan for the progressive Assembly of Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles and Heavy Duty Vehicles. Ghadhara Nissan's Car and Truck Plants are located at Port Qasim, Karachi, adjacent to each other. Ghandhara Nissan is a group Company of Bibojee Services (Private) Limited. On January, 1997, Ghandhara Nissan announced "Nissan passenger cars are now being assembled at Ghandhara Nissan's plant under the direct supervision of Japanese engineers."[1]. However, after it was later discontinued and currently no passenger cars are being assembled at Gandhara.

Commercial vehicles

Hino Pak Motors

Hino Motors Japan and Toyota Tsusho Corporation in collaboration with Al-Futtaim Group of UAE and PACO Pakistan formed Hinopak Motors Limited in 1986. In 1998, Hino Motors Ltd., and Toyota Tsusho Corporation obtained majority shareholding in the company after disinvestments by the other two founding sponsors. This decision to invest in Hinopak at a time when the country's economy was passing through a depression and the sale of commercial vehicles was at an all-time low reflects the confidence our Principals have in our company and their commitment to the Pakistani market. Hinopak is the trusted market leader with over 50% share in the Pakistani Truck and Bus industry.

Al Ghazi Tractors

Al Ghazi Tractors is a commercial vehicle manufacturer in Pakistan. Al-Ghazi Tractors's plant manufacture New Holland tractors and generators in collaboration with Fiat New Holland. Since 1991, Al-Futtaim Group of Dubai has been managing the company by acquiring 50% of its shares. Its corporate Head Office is in Karachi, Pakistan.

Models produced include:

• New Holland 480S
• New Holland 640
• New Holland 640S
• Ghazi
• New Holland NH 55-56
• New Holland NH 60-56
• New Holland NH 70-56(4WD)

Master Motors

Master Motors is a lorry manufacturer based in Port Qasim, Karachi, Pakistan as a part of the Master Group of Industries. Master Motors signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (Daimler AG has come to hold 85% of the company) to manufacture and assemble Mitsubishi Fuso-based trucks and buses in Pakistan. It has developed into the leading brand in Pakistan in the 3 ton trucks (25% market share) and 31⁄2 and 41⁄2 ton trucks (50% share).

Models produced include:

• Highland - 11⁄2 tonne lorry
• Forland Super - 3 ton truck
• Econo - 31⁄2 tonne lorry
• Grande - 41⁄2 tonne lorry
• Rocket - 61⁄2 tonne lorry
• M-410B Bus - 25-30 passenger bus

Motorcycles

Lahore is hub of Two wheeler and 3 wheeler Vehicles in Pakistan.

Ghani Automobile Industries

Ghani Automobile Industries is a Pakistani manufacturer of motorcycles based in Lahore.

Ghani Automobile is a collaboration of two industrial groups, Ghani Group of Companies & Chongqing Yingang Science and Technology Group Company Limited, and is a public limited company quoted on the stock exchange in Pakistan. Ghani Automobiles is a company of Ghani Group, and is listed on Stock Exchanges. Established in 2004, the company started its commercial production of the two wheelers during 2005. The head office is in Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan while the plant is situated at 49 km Multan Road, Lahore covering an area of approx. 218,000 sq. feet (5 acres).

Models produced include:

• Ghani Gr-05 CC (Black)
• Ghani Gi-70 CC (Black & Red)
• Ghani Gi-100 CC (Black & Red)
• Ghani GR-100 CC (Hamsaffar Black & Red)
• Ghani Gi-125-18 (Black)
• Ghani Gi-150-9 (Black)

Suzuki

Suzuki motorcycles produced in Pakistan include:

• Suzuki Sprinter ECO
• Suzuki GS 150 cc
• Suzuki GD 110cc

Yamaha

In 1976, under the umbrella of the Dawood Group of companies, Dawood Yamaha Limited (DYL) was formed in a joint venture with Yamaha Motor Company (YMC), Japan. The joint venture with YMC ended and DYL introduced a new product the YD-70 Dhoom in the year 2008. The Dhoom is the economical cousin of the YB-100 Royale which has been produced in Pakistan for the last thirty years, and most recently the YD-100 Junoon, which was designed and engineered by in Pakistan. Its sister company Balochistan Engineering Works (BEWL) produces the frame, fuel tank, rear arm, fenders, gears, hubs, leavers, crank and cover cases. The assembly plant for our motorcycles is based in Uthal, where the plant manufactures motorcycles in accordance with very high quality standards laid down by Yamaha Motor Company, Japan. Since 2013 DYL and its sister concern BEWL facilities have been shut down and currently production is being carried out at Brighter Engineering (Pvt) Limited at Lahore. The company are in sever financial crises and not able settle creditors, financial institutions, and employees full and final settlement. SITARA GUANGTA SITARA AUTO IMPEX, Karachi, Pakistan Assembler of SITARA GUANGTA motorcycles is one of the main contributor in Changes of Govt. Policy for bike assembling owner of SITARA, Mr. Muhammad Sabir Shaikh who is the Chairman of Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers APMA (www.motorcycleexport.com) did a lot in last 20 years for the betterment of Chinese-based bike assembling in Pakistan.

References

• Autos in Pakistan
• Monthly Automark Magazine
• Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association
• Automotive Companies in Karachi Pakistan
• Automotive Companies in Pakistan