The locally manufactured car sales in the country have improved to 12,811 units in Jan 2013, up 52 per cent versus 8,448 units in Dec 2012 due to increase in sales to ‘New Model’ phenomenon and declining sales of imported used CBUs.

However, the local car sales in Pakistan, including LCVs, vans and jeeps, during 7MFY13 has reached 70,351 units as compared to 96,927 units in the same period last year, showing a plunge on account of huge import of used imported CBU’s prior to restriction on imports, termination of Non EURO-II compliant cars (‘Alto’ and ‘Coure’) and absence of taxi scheme. Experts said that amongst individual companies, Pak Suzuki (PSMC) sales declined by 31 per cent to 42,328 units during 7MFY13 as compared to 60,159 units last year. However, on monthly basis, PSMC sales picked up to 7,004 units by 17 per cent, as compared to 5,987 units in Dec’12 on account of increased sales of cargo vehicles ‘Cultus’ and ‘Mehran’.

During 7MFY13, Indus Motors (INDU) sales came down by 38 per cent to 18,259 units as compared to 29,462 units in 7MFY12. Decline in sales is primarily contributed by 37 per cent decline in ‘Corolla’ sales to 15,725 units in 7MFY13 and termination of ‘Coure’. However, on monthly basis, INDU sale has jumped to 3,560 units in Jan’13, up 127 per cent to 1,571 units in Dec’12 primarily because of ‘New Year’ Phenomenon.

Zeeshan Afzal, an expert, said in a report that with the import restriction going into effect, he foresees decent growth in local car sales in coming months, with notable recovery in 4QFY13. It is to be noted that LCVs, vans and jeeps sale declined sharply to 57,540 units during the first half of 2013, down by 30 percent as compared to 81,944 units during same period last year.

On monthly basis, the locally-manufactured car sales fell to 8,448 units in December 2012, eight percent down as compared to 9,154 units in November 2012, while 25 percent down as compared to 11,217 in the same month last year, he said.

Among individual companies, Pak Suzuki (PSMC) sales declined by 32 percent to 34,324 units during the period under review as compared to 50,718 units last year. However, on a monthly basis, PSMC sales picked up to 5,987 units, up by seven percent as compared to 5,584 units in Nov 2012 on account of increased sales of cargo vehicles ‘Bolan’ and ‘Ravi’, said Afzal.

Indus Motors (INDU) sales came down by 39 percent to 14,699 units during the first half of 2013 as compared to 24,066 units in the same period in 2012. Decline in sales is primarily contributed by 38 percent decline in ‘Corolla’ sales to 12,429 units.