Hopefully this trend also picks up in automobile assembling/Manufacturing sector in Pakistan and bring down the prices of cars, trucks and buses in Pakistan.
KARACHI (December 07 2005): The federal government has recently awarded licences to five companies to set up plants for assembling and manufacturing of motorcycles in the country, sources close to the sector told Business Recorder on Tuesday.
With this move, the number of motorcycle manufacturers and assemblers in the country has increased to 40, from 35 three months back. The companies, which have acquired licences, are Babar Auto Manufacturing (Karachi), Moonstar Motor Corporation (Karachi), Master Motorcycles (Lahore), Super Sonic Corporation (Karachi), Bhawaja automobiles (Karachi) and Crown Lifan (Sadiqabad).
Besides this, the Japanese motorbike manufacturer, Kawasaki, is also flexing its muscles to re-enter the Pakistan market shortly with huge investment, which had stopped its operations earlier for about 15 years.
"Kawasaki would start its production most probably in January 2006," sources said elaborating that the management of Kawasaki is setting up its motorcycle plant these days in the Haripur Hazara region (in NWFP).
Besides, almost every other company, which is currently manufacturing or assembling motorcycles, has increased its production owing to the rising demand throughout the country.
Sources said that Honda had set the production target of 85,772 units (motorcycles) for the first quarter of current fiscal year 2005-06, while Yamaha's target was 20,750.
Similarly, the production target of Suzuki motorcycles was 4,677 units, followed by Sohrab 4933 units and Qingqi 6,435 units for the first quarter of the current financial year.
Figures show that till the end of September this year (2005), Honda sold some 29,033 units, Yamaha 6,382, Suzuki 1,428, Sohrab 1,561 and Qingqi 1,204 units. The figures show that five companies Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Sohrab and Qingqi have produced some 40,398 motorcycles and sold 39,608 units.
"Competition is rising day by day in this field, which has not only compelled the companies, who were previously enjoying full market share, to bring their product's prices down but also to improve quality and production," said a manufacturer.
He said that with the induction of local companies in motorcycle industry, people who could only purchase second-hand bikes could now get a brand new locally manufactured bike at affordable rates.
Some 35 companies are already operational in the country. Pak Hero Industries, Atlas Honda, Pakistan Cycle Industrial Co-operative Society Limited ,Saigols Qingqi Motors Limited, Excel Industries, New Asia automobiles, United Sales, Blue Star automobile, Pacific Motor Company Limited, HKF Engineering (Pvt) Limited, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited, Star Asia and Zxmco Pakistan (Pvt) Limited are assembling 70cc motorcycles.
Suzuki Motorcycle Pakistan Limited, Dawood Yamaha Limited, Dewan Motorcycles Limited, Ahmed automobile Company, NJ Auto Industries, Sitara Auto Impex, AB Engineering (Pvt) Limited are also producing motorbikes besides companies from Hyderabad, Memon Associates Foundry Limited, Raazi Motor Industries and Shafiq Sons which are engaged in manufacturing Super Star SS-70, Hi Speed SR-70 motorcycles and Jinan JN-70cc motorcycles, respectively.
Other companies including DS Motors Fateh Motors, King Hero Motorcycle Industries, Super Asia Motors (Pvt) Limited, Toyo International Motorcycle, Suleman Auto Industries, Metro Hi-tech industries (Pvt) Limited, Eagle Industries, Raja Auto Cars, Ali Raza Industries, Habib Motorcycles (Pvt) Limited, N.J. Auto Industries, Omega Industries, Pakistan C.I.C.S. Limited, Rafiq Engineering Industries (Pvt) Limited and Sonica Auto Industries (Pvt) Limited are also manufacturing different models of motorbikes, mainly 70cc.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2005