Lucky Motor Corporation Limited (LMCL) is caught between a rock and a hard place, based on its decision to increase the price of Carnival GLS+ and suspend bookings for its best-selling vehicles.
According to a recent notification, Kia has suspended the bookings for all variants of Picanto, Sportage, and Stonic. The company is taking bookings for Sorento, Carnival, and strangely, Stonic’s Completely Built-Up (CBU) units.
The notification did not include any reason behind the suspension but has highlighted that it is only temporary. It also clarified that the “production, dispatches, and invoicing will continue as planned.”
Auto Industry Troubles
The last few days have seen carmakers including Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC), Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL), Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC), and even LMCL increase the prices of their cars. All automakers have cited rising raw material costs, freight costs, and depreciation of local currency as reasons for price hikes.
However, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has voiced concerns over the hefty price tags of cars in Pakistan. In a recent meeting, Chairmanship of PAC Rana Tanveer Hussain said that:
A nationwide Ponzi scheme has been going on for the previous four decades. (The automakers) have been making cars here for years, yet their vehicles still don’t have airbags. The car gets damaged if you press it with your thumb.
According to recent reports, the Ministery of Trade and Commerce, Industries and Production, and Engineering Development Board (EDB) are investigating the recent price hikes after receiving unsatisfactory rationales from the automakers.
Abdul Razak Dawood and Khusro Bakhtiar, both PTI ministers have major shares in Suzuki, Toyota and Honda. They have earned billions due to price rises.
Our government department Public Account Committee and Monopoly Control Authority ,FBR do not investigate the malpractice of Auto manufacturers and dealership.