KARACHI: Around 74,497 locally assembled cars hit the road during the first seven months (July-Jan) of 2014-15 as compared to 64,834 units in the same period last year.

A total of 15,770 cars were sold in January alone as compared to 9,522 units in Dec 2014, Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) figures suggested on Wednesday.

Higher sales of the Toyota Corolla’s new model in July-Jan 2014-15 to 26,593 units from 16,486 units in the same period last year, made a positive impact on the overall sales of 1,300cc and above cars, which rose to 40,388 units in the period under review from 32,063 units.

Honda Civic continued its struggle, as its sales drop to 4,144 units in the period under review as compared to 5,525 units in the same period last year. However, Honda City sales slightly went up to 7,655 units from 7,064 units.

Suzuki Swift sales remained flat at 1,974 units as compared to 2,879 units; Suzuki Cultus plunged to 7,747 units from 8,711 units; Suzuki Mehran to 16,164 units from 16,232 units while sales of Suzuki Bolan inched up to 7,972 as compared to 7,810 units.

Moreover, Toyota Fortuner sales rose to 432 units in the period under review as compared to 267 units in the same period last year. Its sale in January, 2015 stood at 71 units compared to 21 units the previous month.

Suzuki Ravi sales increased to 7,629 in July-Jan 2014-15 from 6,840 units, while Toyota Hilux sales declined to 2,273 units from 2,418 units. Sigma Defender sales recorded at 293 units as compared to 291 units.

Adnan Haider of Sherman Securities said January 2015 sales remained the highest recorded in the last two-and-a-half years due to growing demand for new cars, owing to better disposable income amid slowdown in inflation, declining car financing rates and lower oil prices.

Besides growing demand, other reason behind higher month-on-month sales was the buyers slowdown during preceding month as they waited for new year registration, he said.

Interestingly, January 2015 sales do not include sales of vehicles under ‘Apna Rozgar Scheme’ launched by Punjab government, by which Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMC) is entitled to deliver 50,000 pickup/vans in one year.

“According to our sources, out of the total quota, PSMC will start delivering 4,000-5,000 vehicles under the scheme in the next couple of days,” Adnan said.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2015

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