Comment by Riaz Haq on August 3, 2025 at 10:21am

Husain Haqqani
@husainhaqqani
Pakistan’s Nishat Group has earmarked $100 million to build electric-powered vehicles in partnership with one of China’s largest car exporters, Chery Automobile Co.
Local car assembling starts in October, & manufacturing will follow.
@business
reports.

https://x.com/husainhaqqani/status/1951209832200958217

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Faseeh Mangi
@FaseehMangi
Pakistani tycoon Mian Mansha is setting up a factory to build EV cars with one of China’s largest car exporters, Chery Automobile

The conglomerate has earmarked about $100 million

They plans to debut five cars today and start local assembling in Oct.

https://x.com/FaseehMangi/status/1951189257227223537

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Nishat, Chery launch Omoda, Jaecoo

https://www.dawn.com/news/1928185/nishat-chery-launch-omoda-jaecoo

LAHORE: One of Pak­istan’s leading business conglomerates, Nishat Group, has partnered with Chery International — China’s largest automobile exporter — to launch its global brands, Omoda and Jaecoo, in the local market. The high-profile unveiling event was held on Friday.

The group announced plans to establish a car manufacturing facility near Faisalabad, with local assembly of electric vehicles (EVs) expected to commence in November. An investment of $100 million will be made through its subsidiary, Nexgen Auto, to support EV manufacturing and marketing operations in Pakistan.

In a significant industry first, five car models were unveiled simultaneously — more than typically seen at automotive laun­ches. The line-up included two long-range battery electric vehicles (E5 and J6), two plug-in hybrids (J7 and C7), and a hybrid vehicle (J5). The event was attended by a broad spectrum of participants, including political figures, environmental advocates, automotive influencers, and car enthusiasts.

Speaking at the event, Nishat Group Chairman Mian Mohammad Mansha welcomed the government’s focus on electric mobility, calling it a timely move to address climate and economic challenges. He said the group had chosen to partner with Chery International due to its commitment to environmental sustainability.

“The introduction of electric vehicles will help combat pollution and significantly reduce the country’s oil import bill,” he said. He added that his group’s existing automotive venture, Hyundai, has already sold over 50,000 units. Mr Mansha also announced plans to offer bank financing for electric cars through MCB Bank, another entity under the Nishat umbrella.

Mr Qi Joe, President of Chery International South Asia, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that the collaboration would help position Omoda and Jaecoo among Pakistan’s top car brands.

In a statement, the company said the launch highlighted Nishat Group’s commitment to innovation and excellence. “The unveiling of a future-ready line-up, tailored to the evolving needs of Pakistani consumers, reflects Nishat Group’s strategic vision for the country’s automotive industry,” it noted.

The event marks a milestone for Nexgen Auto in its goal to redefine mobility in Pakistan by introducing cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and intelligent performance. With the entry of Omoda and Jaecoo, the company aims to bring global innovation and a modern driving experience to local roads, setting a new industry benchmark.

Comment by Riaz Haq on November 3, 2025 at 8:48am

Hybrids save $27m in fuel imports - Business - DAWN.COM

https://www.dawn.com/news/1952253

KARACHI: More than 30,000 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have hit Pakistani roads over the past two years, saving an estimated 30 million litres of fuel and reducing the oil import bill by around $27 million.

Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) Chief Executive Mohammad Faisal said the savings could multiply if hybrids accounted for 25-30pc of the overall vehicle market. Pakistan’s auto market, including cars, vans, SUVs and pickups, averages 180,000-200,000 units annually, with HEVs now holding over 50pc share in the sport utility vehicles (SUV) segment during the first quarter of FY26.

Since 2021, 13 new electrified models have been launched in Pakistan, nine of which are hybrids from Korean, Chinese and Japanese assemblers. Mr Faisal said the trend reflects growing consumer conf­idence in HEVs due to easier maintena­nce, consistent fuel savings and better res­ale value compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Comment by Riaz Haq on February 20, 2026 at 8:19pm

BYD adds to China's expanding automotive footprint in Pakistan

https://kr-asia.com/byd-adds-to-chinas-expanding-automotive-footpri...

BYD is emerging as a key player in Pakistan’s automotive market as the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer prepares to begin local assembly in the country, and to reshape a sector long controlled by Japanese carmakers like Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda.

“The plant is expected to become operational in the third to fourth quarter of 2026, with the first locally assembled BYD vehicles anticipated to reach the market later in the year,” Danish Khaliq, vice president in charge of sales and strategy at Mega Motor Company, BYD’s official partner in Pakistan, told Nikkei Asia.

BYD Pakistan, the name Mega Motor Company uses for marketing and branding purposes, began selling imported EVs in Pakistan in 2024. The local partner is currently preparing BYD’s first assembly plant near Karachi with an annual production capacity of 25,000 vehicles.

BYD surpassed Tesla of the US as the world’s top EV supplier for the first time in 2025.

BYD Pakistan declined to share its sales in the South Asian country with Nikkei Asia, but it said that the assembly plant construction is expected to carry an estimated cost of USD 150 million. Local media have reported that BYD sold around 2,000 units in 2025.

BYD is not the first Chinese marque in Pakistan. FAW Motors entered the market in 2017, followed by state-owned Changan Automobile, which began local assembly in 2018. State-owned BAIC Motor followed in 2019. BYD will, however, be the first local EV assembler in Pakistan.

“Rising smog levels in major cities and the transport sector’s contribution to air pollution have made clean mobility an urgent consideration rather than a distant goal,” Khaliq said. “At the same time, the growing fuel import bill has strengthened the case for alternative energy solutions.”

Chinese automakers tend to focus on higher-end EVs and hybrid vehicles rather than conventional gasoline cars, where competition from Japanese manufacturers is relatively limited. For example, Great Wall Motor (GWM), the top-selling Chinese automaker in Pakistan, began local assembly in 2021 and reportedly sold about 10,000 units, including Haval-branded hybrid SUV models, in 2025.

Shehryar Qadir, senior vice chairman of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), told Nikkei that Chinese automakers currently account for about 20% of Pakistan’s passenger vehicle market.

Kamran Kamal, a BYD Pakistan executive, once told local media that the new energy vehicles Chinese automakers are betting on will make up as much as 50% of passenger vehicles sold in Pakistan by 2030.

Experts said that the Chinese automaker push into the Pakistan market is primarily driven by a favorable government policy that will remain in place until June.

Comment by Riaz Haq on February 20, 2026 at 8:20pm

BYD adds to China's expanding automotive footprint in Pakistan

https://kr-asia.com/byd-adds-to-chinas-expanding-automotive-footpri...


Pakistan’s automotive development and export policy for 2021–2026 offers reduced duties and tax incentives for vehicle imports and the establishment of assembly plants, aiming to attract new entrants, increase competition, and promote gradual localization in the country’s automobile sector.

This policy covers newcomers to the entire automobile industry, and does not favor only Chinese brands or EVs.

“Under this policy, Chinese companies are importing vehicles and assembling them locally through completely built units or semi-assembled routes, without major investment in localization or technology transfer,” Mashood Khan, an automotive sector expert based in Karachi, told Nikkei.

“Their current market presence is therefore shaped more by policy incentives than by long-term industrial commitment,” he said.

Qadir, from PAAPAM, agreed: “New entrants under [Pakistan’s new car] policies had 20% concession on parts imports, which is huge in the auto parts manufacturing industries, where profit margins are around the 5% mark,” he said. “This resulted in lower costs and very high margins for the [Chinese].”

GWM’s Haval H6 is priced at around USD 18,000–22,000 in Pakistan, while Toyota’s RAV4 sells at USD 30,000–35,000. BYD’s Atto 3 is available at dealers for USD 20,000–23,000, while its Seal U model is priced around USD 25,000–28,000.

Toyota Indus Motor Company, Toyota’s local unit, did not respond to Nikkei‘s query by the time of publication.

“The reason why the Japanese manufacturers could not take advantage of this was that policy advantage was only offered to greenfield investment, so only new entrants could avail this advantage,” Qadir told Nikkei, adding that new entrants, such as Hyundai Motor and Kia, have also taken advantage of the auto policy.

He foresees the policy likely being extended beyond June this year. “Auto policy 2026–31’s zero draft was shared by Engineering Development Board [an apex government body under the Ministry of Industries and Production] in November 2025. Policy formulation is currently underway,” he told Nikkei.

Habib Ullah Khan, an expert on emerging economies based in Karachi, pointed out that Chinese firms also benefit from a decade of Beijing’s EV subsidies, and the world’s largest domestic testing ground.

“[The Chinese] have perfected aggressive pricing through scale and are now capable of launching EVs near conventional vehicle price points,” he told Nikkei.

Qadir is cognizant of the flip side of the typical Chinese automaker strategy, noting that the China market is saturated with over 100 EV brands, with less than 7% in profit.

“Due to this intense competition in China, companies are forced to look outwards at overseas markets, often at lower price points, to push volumes,” he said.

The growing presence of Chinese automakers threatens Japanese companies in Pakistan, which have historically dominated the auto market.

“Pakistan is a fascinating place to study the Chinese challenge to Japanese auto makers,” said Habib Ullah Khan. “What is happening in Pakistan will be replicated all over the world where Japanese car makers dominate.”

Industry insiders said that Japanese manufacturers operating in Pakistan already have high levels of localization and a broader product mix. They continue to dominate small cars and sedans and retain market leadership despite rising competition.

“While Chinese brands are gaining acceptance in SUVs due to global shifts and feature-rich offerings, their long-term success will depend on how quickly they can match Japanese localization levels,” Mashood Khan, the auto expert, said.

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