Pakistan’s auto market is expanding, with new entrants planning to introduce hybrid and electric vehicles. Among them, China’s BYD Group, in partnership with Mega Conglomerate Pvt Ltd, announced plans to penetrate the Pakistani market.
The collaboration was revealed at a signing ceremony in China, where Mega’s Aly Khan discussed promoting electric vehicle adoption in Pakistan. In 2024, BYD intends to open showrooms in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, signalling a shift towards electrification in an industry traditionally reliant on petroleum.
Despite these plans, a Ministry of Industries and Production official noted that BYD and Mega have not sought a license for a local assembly plant, likely opting to import vehicles instead.
The Indus Motor Company is the sole producer of a hybrid vehicle in Pakistan, the Toyota Corolla Cross, although two other newcomers are also assembling hybrids. Ali Asghar Jamali of Indus highlighted the automotive sector’s shift from fossil fuels.
Challenges remain, particularly for battery electric vehicles, due to heavy reliance on petroleum and inadequate infrastructure, such as sparse charging stations. The National Electric Vehicle policy, launched in 2019, has yet to attract a four-wheeler EV assembler to Pakistan.
Responding to these issues, Asim Ayaz of the Engineering Development Board acknowledged the high costs of EVs but mentioned a proposal to integrate EV charging stations into existing gas stations to boost accessibility.
