KARACHI: A paltry decline in November sales compared to October and rising prices in the past few months on exchange rate parity did not affect car sales which increased by 13.6 per cent to 55,779 units in 5MFY21.

Sales in Nov this year stood at 11,914 units versus 11,997 units in Oct. Car sales in Nov 2019 were much lower at 8,524 units. Low interest rates and improving economic activities can also be attributed in luring buyers towards new cars.

According to the figures of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Associ­ation, Honda Civic and City recorded a jump of 73pc during the first five months to 10,429 units while second highest rise of 53pc was registered in Suzuki Bolan with sales of 2,987 units.

Demand for two- and three-wheelers picked up after the Covid-19 lockdown was lifted

Suzuki WagonR was third with 36pc rise in sales to 4,539 units in 5MFY21 despite massive decline of 24pc in production to 3,771 units in the above period.

In Nov, WagonR production and sales remained depressed at 336 and 881 units as compared to 1,351 and 1,198 units in Oct 2020.

Among the gainers was Suzuki Swift with an 8pc hike in sales to 924 units in the 5FMY21.

Despite a massive drop in the arrival of imported used cars especially 660-1,000cc in the last one and a half years, Pak Suzuki’s flagship vehicle Alto 660cc suffered a sales decline of 34pc to 13,267 units in the first five months of FY21. Cultus followed suit with a drop of 2pc drop to 5,596 units.

Toyota Corolla sales plunged by 31pc to 6,632 units as buyers appeared more focused towards the new entrant Toyota Yaris whose sales during July-Nov 2020 stood at 11,405 units. Indus Motor Company observed plant shut down in mid-November for three days due to shortage of parts.

Overall truck sales were 1,359 units, down by 6.3pc in 5MFY21. Hinopak was the main loser with 59pc drop to 256 units while its arch rival Isuzu managed increase its sales by 7pc to 678 units. Sales of Master trucks soared by 93pc to 353 units while JAC sold 72 units versus 10 units in 5MFY20.

In buses, Hinopak faced 40pc decline to 87 units followed by 34pc drop in Isuzu buses to 55 units. Master buses sales increased by 25pc to 104 units. As a result, the overall bus sales came down by 21pc to 246 units.

In the SUVs, jeeps and pickups category, Toyota Fortuner and Honda BR-V sales remained brisk with 978 and 1,473 units, up by 105pc and 33pc respectively in 5MFY21.

Suzuki Ravi, Toyota Hilux and JAC sold 3,029, 3,123 and 242 units, showing a jump of 19pc, 83pc and 23pc, respectively, in the first five months of the current fiscal. D-Max sales plummeted by 52pc to 121 units.

New comers Hyundai Tucson and Porter sold 819 and 434 units during July-Nov 2020.

In farm machinery, Fiat and Massey Ferguson sales improved by 2pc and 53pc to 5,853 and 12,563 units, respectively, thus signaling better agricultural activities in the country.

In the two- and three-wheelers, Honda sales swelled by 19pc to 512,010 units while Suzuki and Yamaha sales maintained a negative trend by selling 8,719 and 8,733 units, down by 3pc and 18pc, respectively.

United and Road Prince bike sales stood at 170,549 and 67,474 units, up by 18pc and 25pc versus 5MFY20. Buyers of two-wheelers have returned to the market after suspending their purchase during April and May when the government had announced lockdown in a bid to control the Covid-19 pandemic.

Three-wheeler sales remained upbeat as sales of United, Road Prince, Sazgar and Qingqi were 3,296, 4,656, 6,030 and 8,383 units, up by 28pc, 37pc, 44pc and 83pc, respectively.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2020