KARACHI: Pakistan car sales recorded a decline of 2 per cent to clock-in at 14,000 units in August due to the unavailability of completely knocked down unit (CKD) parts, leading to non-production by auto manufacturers.

The auto sales were also down 46 per cent on a year-on-year basis amid escalating car prices, expensive auto financing and low purchasing power of the consumers.

This takes the car sales in the first two months of fiscal year 2023 to 23,498 units, down 50 per cent, compared with 46,656 units in the same period of last fiscal year.

In July, the automakers were allowed to import only 50 per cent of their average imports over the last four months to save foreign exchange reserves. The quota has been increased to 60 per cent for August and 70 per cent for September.

Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMC) sales were down 41 per cent on a monthly basis to 3,954 units in August due to plant closure amid unavailability of CKD parts.

Honda Atlas Car (HCAR) also recorded a decline of 29 per cent to 1,809 units, led by a decline of 40 per cent in the sales of City and Civic.

Indus Motors (INDU) sales posted an increase of 63 per cent to 3,876 units, compared with 2,375 units in July. Interestingly, Hyundai sales increased to 1,929 units in Aug, compared with 201 units in the previous month led by an uptick in Tuscon sales primarily due to low base.

Amongst Tractors, the sales of Millat Tractors (MTL) recorded an increase of 153 per cent on a monthly basis and 27 per cent on a yearly basis to 2,556 units. Al Ghazi Tractors (AGTL) recorded sales of 1,420 units, up 14 per cent on a monthly basis and 9 per cent on a yearly basis.

The bike sales were up by 5 per cent on a monthly basis while the same were down 32 per cent on a year-on-year basis in August. Atlas Honda (ATLH) recorded sales of 85,000 units, up 6 per cent on a monthly basis and down 15 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

Trucks and buses sales were up 24 per cent on a monthly basis while down 43 per cent on a yearly basis, to 341 units in August primarily due to a drop in the transportation activities amid floods and slowdown in the overall economy.

Also Read

Limits on auto imports & rising prices have hurt auto sales

Government measures to ban auto imports and raise prices are hurting car...