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KARACHI, June 12: In anticipation of an auto friendly budget and good orders in hand, the PakSuzuki Motor Company (PSMC) on Friday unveiled an ambitious production plan for JulyDecember 2009.
On the contrary, Indus Motor Company’s production plans appear to be normal for the next six months.
The production plan of the Pak-Suzuki for July-December 2009 is, however, slightly higher if compared with the same period of 2008 due to higher production plan for 800cc Mehran, but it is definitely much higher when compared with January-May 2009.
The Pak-Suzuki was producing an average 3,000 different vehicles per month till May, but it has tightened its vendors for the second half of the current year in terms of procurement of parts.
Senior PSMC officials in a vendors’ coordination meeting on June 10 informed parts makers that it had received good response mainly on cash buying and also on advance booking after price cuts by Rs2,000-55,000 in April.
Besides, the scheme to bring old Suzuki vehicle and get a new car after paying the balance amount also lured customers.
Around 1,900-2,000 applications of used cars had arrived for replacement purpose.
There was also some demand for van and pick-up from the NGOs working in different parts of country for the internal displaced persons (IDPs) after military operation in various parts of the NWFP.
According to vendors, the PSMC plans to produce overall 5,430 units in July followed by 5,165 units in August, 5,105 units in September, 7,125 units in October, 6,240 units in November and 5,360 units in December 2009.
PSMC, having 50 per cent market share, plans to roll out 34,415 units in July-December 2009 in which Mehran will be taking the lead with 13,550 units followed by 3,870 units of Alto 1000cc, 4815 units of Cultus 1000cc, 620 units of Liana, 6,490 units of Ravi pickup and 5,070 units of van making a total of 34,415 vehicles.
However, the company produced 34,607 vehicles during July-December 2008.
A total of 7,853 units of Mehran were produced in JulyDecember 2008 followed by 4,667 units of Alto, 6,133 units of Cultus, 386 units of Liana, 9,267 units of Ravi Pick up and 5,070 units of Bolan.
Vendors said the Indus Motor Company (IMC) has informed them about their plans to assemble 3,120 units of Toyota Corolla in July followed by 2,810 units in August, 2,380 units in September, 2,700 units in October, 2,100 units in November and 1,130 units in December.
In July 2008, 379 units of Corolla were produced, followed by 471 units in August, 1,697 units in September, 2,902 units in October, 3,053 units in November and 1,628 units in December 2008.
The company plans to make 340 units of Cuore in July 2009, 300 units in August, 330 units in September, 460 units in October, 290 units in November and 100 units in December 2009.
In July 2008, 1,032 units were produced, 1,013 units in August, 718 units in September, 640 units in October, 530 units in November and 70 units in December 2008.
As many as 230 units of Hilux will be assembled in July, 200 units in August, 110 units in September, 150 units in October and 100 units each in November and December.
In July 2008, 160 units of Hilux were assembled followed by 150 units in August, 165 units in September, 123 units in October, 112 units in November and one unit in December 2008.
The IMC had already increased prices of two Corolla versions by Rs 30,000 in May.
Industry people are hopeful that the government is either likely to reduce five per cent federal excise duty (FED) to 2.5 per cent or abolish it which may result in decline in car prices and help revive customers’ sentiments for new cars.
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