IMC to replace Cuore
The News
Hina Mahgul Rind Tuesday, October 04, 2011
KARACHI: Indus Motor Company (IMC) is all set to replace its ‘Daihatsu Cuore’ by 2012 with a new make, said Raza Ansari, Director Marketing IMC, while talking to The News.
He said that Coure has lived its life and IMC is committed to launch new cars. He said the industry is in contact with the government to resolve all issues concerning the auto industry. He urged the government to stabilise the policies because drastic changes would not benefit the local industry.
He said the report by Gary Persul and its data was not shared with the local stakeholders and the report was not even placed on the website of the Planning Commission. “We have asked for a copy of the report.”
The bits and pieces of the report published in newspapers show that the consultant firm is suggesting Pakistan to become a trade-based country, he said. Raza added that this would be another blow to local auto manufacturers who were already facing a myriad of problems after making huge investments over the years. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have invested over Rs20 billion during the last four years, he claimed.
He said Pakistan was an investment-starved country, one of the most important reasons of which was the government’s unstable policies. He said those advocating such moves were unable to foresee the near future when only manufacturing economies would survive a crisis like the one seen in 2008.
The IMC spokesperson said the government should provide incentives to new entrants, but level-playing field should be provided to the existing local manufacturers. He said the industry would never agree on disparity of tariff because it would not be fair with the current players.
He said the industry has given its recommendations for the new auto plan to be announced for 2012 to 2017. In the next five years, the volume will increase from current 160,000 to 325,000 units as the markets grow gradually, he said. There should be no drastic changes in tariff, he added.
He said any irrational decision would eventually lead to the demise of the local auto vendor industry. “It is not realised that the auto vendor industry is one of the few industries in Pakistan that is still doing well despite all the adverse economic challenges that the country faces.”