News Analysis |
With the auto revolution in Pakistan just around the corner, another local bike player has decided to enter the auto sphere. Regal Automobile Industries Limited, Pakistan’s third largest bike assembling company, launched a plant where light commercial vehicles and vans will be manufactured. This plant in Lahore, an investment of Rs 10 billion, started production in June 2018. Regal Automobile Industries Chairman Sohail Usman and DFSK Group of China entered into a technical agreement for assembling vehicles. This agreement is already operational under the name “Prince”.
An 11-seater multipurpose vehicle named Prince C37, a pick-up named K01 equipped with modern technology and a six-seater luxury van K07 will be available in the market. All these vehicles are available with Euro grade engine equipped with European technology. The company is also providing after sales service facility. In the future, the company plans to manufacture SUVs.
Previously, Bike manufacturer “United” had announced that it will be venturing into auto manufacturing and had “leaked” pictures of a hatchback variant “Bravo” which sparked interest online and had been cited as the most highly anticipated new entrant in Pakistani auto history, GVS earlier reported.
To quote, the official shared BAW has applied for the Greenfield status and Cavalier Autos was their domestic partner. Both BAW and LIFAN are originally expected to launch light commercial vehicles in Pakistan.
Its engine will be 800 CC with three cylinders. United Autos Sales and Marketing General Manager Afzal told a local publication this car will have all the features and security arrangements that are not available in other local vehicles. United Motors recently leaked a semi-formal ‘first look’ of the United Bravo. With a spectacular hatchback outlook and a well-equipped interior, the car is rumored to be priced at PKR 6, 60,000 which is a little shy of what the Suzuki Mehran has been selling for.
Previously, two Chinese companies had announced entering the revamped auto industry and had announced launching light commercial vehicles. Two new entrants are setting up to enter Pakistan’s automobile sector from China namely LIFAN and Beijing Automobile Works (BAW). This takes up the count of new entrants to 8; the others being Kia, Renault, Hyundai, Volkswagen, United and Nissan.
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An official of the Engineering Development Board (EDB) was reached out for comment by PakWheels, an online auto dealership platform and publication, to whom the official confirmed that both BAW and LIFAN have applied to enter the country’s burgeoning automobile sector. To quote, the official shared BAW has applied for the Greenfield status and Cavalier Autos was their domestic partner.
Both BAW and LIFAN are originally expected to launch light commercial vehicles in Pakistan. Also, the official shared, with the publication, that the Haier Group is also planning to enter the auto industry by launching passenger vehicles and its application was currently under scrutiny by the EDB. The official shared that there was a possibility of Ford entering Pakistan’s automobile sector.