ISLAMABAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's passenger car sales rose nearly 80 percent year on year to 30,933 units in July and August, the first two months of the 2026-27 fiscal year, according to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) on Monday.
Passenger car production also increased 36 percent year on year to 30,574 units over the same period.
Truck sales rose 81 percent to 1,656 units and bus sales rose 9 percent to 138 units, taking combined truck and bus sales up 73 percent to 1,794 units. Motorcycle and three-wheeler sales climbed 29 percent to 351,492 units, while tractor sales edged up 5 percent to 2,294 units even as tractor production fell 17 percent.
PAMA director general Razi-ur-Rehman attributed the growth to easing inflationary pressures, improving credit availability and better macroeconomic indicators.
He said the growth reflected a low base from the previous year, with industry volumes still below the record levels recorded in fiscal year 2022.
However, car sales fell 20.3 percent in August alone compared with July, to 13,717 units, as manufacturers and buyers continued to await clarity on the tax treatment of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles following the expiry of the Automotive Industry Development and Export Plan 2021-2026 in June. Jeep and pickup sales fell 29.2 percent and tractor sales fell 15.3 percent over the same month.
The policy uncertainty has left manufacturers holding unsold inventory as consumers delay purchase decisions, according to the association. ■