Automark

On 1st September 2022, the locally assembled Haval H6 underwent lining-off assembly at Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SEWL) in Lahore.

The ceremony was held at newly build state of the art assembly plant in Lahore, with senior management, company staff and dealers.

Since last year Sazgar imports Haval H6 in CBU condition and market this variant. Production capacity of the plant 24000 variants /annum.

Early this year, the business made the new aboriginal H6 prices, features, and variants public. Sazgar has 12 dealerships across country and more are in pipeline.

However, the prices have significantly increased due to the current inflation.

As per our reliable sources pre book already started while formally booking will be start by end of  end of this month. Deliver will be in 3 to 4 months time.

A price cut for Haval’s SUV is scheduled to take effect from August 19, 2022. Yes, the Haval H6 is the topic at hand, and its price has been cut by up to Rs. 3 lacs.

However, considering the rising fuel prices, few people will favor large gas consumption. Given these elements, H6 now faces competition that is even tougher than before.

What do you think of the Pakistani versions of the Haval H6 that are locally assembled? Tell us in the comments section below.

Pakistan increases the regulatory duty on imported vehicles by 100%

Instead of a complete import ban, the Government of Pakistanhas increased regulatory and additional custom duties earlier this week on a variety of imported vehicles.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO 1571(I)/2022, through which it would raise the regulatory tariff rate on imported motor vehicles from 90% to 100%.
Regulatory duties on imported vehicles are applied at a rate of 100% which included the following:

For vehicles in 1000cc to 1300cc category, customers will experience the high estrise in regulatory obligations. Since this is typically a highly price-sensitive sector, the fourfold increase in regulatory duties for the 1000cc to 1300cc category is anticipated to affect overall car imports. In this area, customers search for the greatest offers as an alternative to locally produced goods.

In Pakistan, sales of minivans are rather low, but ATV and SUV buyers are already accustomed to paying more.
To sustain the balance of payments and stop rupee value losses, the government previously banned the import of CBU(Completely Built-Up Vehicles) motor vehicles on May 19, 2022.

However, on August 20, 2022, the government agreed to lift the prohibition due to pressure from the IMF (International Monetary Fund).
The hike in duties may provide local vehicle producers a break as a knock-on effect. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is more likely to abandon its expanded administrative monitoring of completely knocked-down (CKD) kits if Foreign exchange outflows are restricted.

People buy used imported cars as per required with their families. At the same time, used vehicle costs are relatively high, making it quite challenging for customers to afford them during the present economic downturn.

The government’s recently introduced Roshan Digital Apni Car Scheme is exactly what is taking place. According to the program, Non-resident Pakistani can finance a car digitally from anywhere in the world, more easily and at lower rates than Pakistanis who are residents of Pakistan.

The intention is for Pakistanis who are not citizens to purchase more vehicles at home and send more earnings to do so.
If cars are imported from overseas Pakistani people, they pay with foreign exchange, the currency of Pakistan is not going out so why is their high rate of duties on used cars?

The government should consider this matter, and put high rates of duties on the cars which affect Pakistani currency.

People burnt to death and 6 people got critically injured on the predawn of 17th August 2022. The crash occurred when a Daewoo passenger bus rear ended a tanker carrying ethanol and caught fire on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5).

The mega crash bears an uncanny similarity to an incident back in 2015 when a passenger bus rear ended an oil tanker near Shikarpur, ending 62 lives.

In 2011 again, a bus slammed into an oil tanker in Jamshoro, Sindh, setting off a blazing inferno that gutted both vehicles which killed 32 people and critically injured nine.

All three incidents involved a bus rear ending a tanker. All three incidences occurred around pre-dawn, when the chances of driver micro sleep are at its maximum. The front door in all three busses jammed upon impact and all three busses had no emergency exit in the back. All three had the same tragic results. -busses and Oil tankers is a match made in hell.

Driver fatigue is a common denominator, even reputed companies like Daewoo have little regard of local laws such as ‘Road Transport Worker’s Safety Ordinance 1961’ which allow a maximum 8 hours driving per day, 48 per week, and a mandatory rest period every 4 hours. The violation has never been checked or enforced. Companies dealing with hazardous material like Shell, Total and Mol Pakistanprohibit all logistics movement at night but hazardous chemicals are being transported at night by the unregulated industry and even some industry giants.

Tanker design is another factor. Pakistan OGRA standards require a min 4mm shell thickness and the bumper to be extended at least 15cm beyond the tank to minimize the chances of tank leakage in case of rear end collisions.

According to M. Asfandyar, crash safety research engineer in ADCR, the only crashworthiness research company in Pakistan “Vehicle crashworthiness standards in Pakistan are old and fragmented, companies often fail to see the long-term picture when it comes to investing in safety and bid for short term profits –the government sleeps too. For example, there is no law in the archaic Pakistan motor vehicle rules of 1969 mandating and emergency escape door in busses. It’s not rocket science, nor does it cost much. Ironically, transport companies do not demand it from the manufacturers either. The tragic results are evitable! We shall see a change only when companies realize the cost benefits of safe operations”

Breaking the chain is not a one dimensional, it would require an effort from all sides. The government needs to wake up and realize how outdated its laws are. The transportation industry also needs to realize that such tragedies are preventable and save huge reputational and monetary losses. Effective driver management and safer vehicles is doable and profitable. Until then – history will continue to repeat itself.

By Abdullah Bin Nadeem, ADCR

Lahore – Monday, 27th June, 2022. All is set to enthral the car lovers and popular auto players to exhibit their innovations at the Pakistan Auto Show 2022 (PAPS-22) at the International Expo Centre, Lahore, on the 29th, 30th, and 31st, July 2022, under the theme “MADE IN PAKISTAN.”

The Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers, a leading trade body of more than 350 members, is behind this mega event which fascinates the leading auto-players of the auto world.

The well-known official sponsors of this much-awaited mega event, as of now, are MG motors, Indus Motor Company (IMC), Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited (HACPL), Atlas Honda Ltd., (AHL), Al-Haj Automotive (Pvt) Ltd, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMC), and Chevron Pakistan Ltd.

More than 150,000 local visitors show up every year at PAPS to see the renowned companies from Japan, Germany, Korea, China, France, Turkey, Thailand, Taiwan, England, USA, UAE, and Sri Lanka; while over four hundred international visitors, including 150 global buyers and delegations too visit this bustling Auto Show.

The diverse categories of exhibitors include Passenger Cars, Trucks, Buses, Tractors, Rickshaws, Motorcycles, Auto parts Manufacturers, Services providers, Machinery makers, Toolmakers, Antique cars, and Heavy motorbikes, along with related service industries like accessories, tracking & insurance, etc. The Chairman of PAPAAM, Mr Abdur Razzaq Gauhar, stated, “With the exponential growth of auto and related industries in Pakistan, the local consumers and international investors are showing keen interest in the automotive sector.” PAAPAM is seeing the growth potential of local industry and, keeping in mind the needs of consumers, provides a platform, Pakistan Auto Show, to display their products to the masses and have B2B and B2G meetings.

The Pakistan Auto Show 2022 (PAPS-22), the country’s largest exhibition of the Auto Industry, will take place at the Expo Centre in Lahore on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July 2022. The ‘Pakistan Association of Auto parts and accessories manufacturers (PAAPAM), representing over 350 large, medium & small auto part industries from all over Pakistan, has taken a noteworthy initiative. The theme of this year’s PAPS show is “MADE IN PAKISTAN.”

• PRESS RELEASE

Karachi, 14.06.2022 – Audi in collaboration with SIEMENS today unveiled Pakistan’s first and only Ultra-Rapid DC Charging Station equipped with Siemens SICHARGE D series chargers with power up to 160kW in Karachi.

“I am particularly pleased to be present today at the inauguration of this example of brand new German innovation. The future is electric – we are learning that more and more today in times of climate change and global warming. However, electro-based mobility also requires a corresponding infrastructure. I am pleased that another step in this direction is being taken here today.” said Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan Hon Bernhard Schlagheck.

Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Advisor to CM Sindh for Law, Spokesperson for the Government and Administrator Karachi (KMC), commented: “Karachi must also become a metropolis geared towards the new world of transportation with electric vehicles, which will vastly improve emissions in our city by reducing exhaust fumes from fossile fuels. We need to build up an infrastructure of charging stations. Germany’s innovative technology can lead us in this direction. Let us plug-in Karachi into its electrical future!”

Audi is driving its transformation as a provider of sustainable premium mobility. The brand plans to ramp up its efforts by 2025 with a wide range of more than 20 fully electric models. The key to its success and the crux of this transformation is the availability of charging infrastructure. Together with LIBRA, this Ultra-Rapid DC Charging Hub is the start of significantly expanding charging infrastructure in Pakistan. CEO of Premier Systems Syed Arshad Raza said, “As announced, 2020 marked the start of Audi in Pakistan’s major electric offensive. We successfully launched the e-tron model range and are already following that up with the next model, the dynamic and fascinating e-tron GT. We can proudly say that Audi is the number #1 brand of any car manufacturer in Pakistan leading this transformation. Audi is also making an important contribution to the urgently needed expansion of the charging infrastructure, and the LIBRA Charging Hub is the first step in achieving this goal”.

Commenting on the launch of LIBRA Charging Hub, CEO of Siemens Pakistan Mr. Markus Strohmeier said “We need significantly more charging points in Pakistan to cater to the growing requirements of electric vehicles. For that reason, stakeholders including policy makers, investors and power utilities must continue their efforts in the coming years. Siemens SICHARGE D is a high-power charger using the latest technology designed to enable cities, businesses, and individuals to make the most of what Electric Vehicles have to offer now and, in the years, to come.”

“The LIBRA Charging Hub with Siemens’s Ultra-Rapid charger addresses future peak demands and the lack of charging opportunities in Karachi,” said Abdul Haseeb Khan, owner of LIBRA Charging Hub.

Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy, with targets and incentives aimed at seeing electric vehicles Capture 30% of all the passenger vehicle and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and 90% by 2040. It sets even more ambitious goals for two- and three-wheelers and buses; 50% of new sales by 2030 and 90% by 2040. The world is now moving towards electric vehicles and Pakistan would follow suit. The technology will help cut the demand for oil and Pakistan could save about Rs2 billion annually. In addition, pollution will reduce by up to 70 percent.

Venue: Libra Charging Hub, near Fawwara Chawk

• Press Release

Proton exports 794 cars in March – highest in 108 months

Along with the announcement of Proton’s March sales figures comes more good news for the national carmaker, as it has recorded a total of 794 vehicles exported last month, which is a 108-month high in exports for the company.

The 794-unit export figure achieved by Proton in March includes various models, and Pakistan was by far the largest export market for the company, with the country accounting for 690 units in that month. Local assembly (CKD) operations for the Saga in Karachi, Pakistan commenced in October last year.

Meanwhile, overall first-quarter export volume was 1,117 units, representing a 175% increase over the same quarter last year, said Proton.
Naturally, the Saga continues to lead the brand in sales volume with 6,422 units sold in March, which was also the model’s best monthly sales figure in nine years. This was better only in November 2013, when the Saga SV was on sale.

This meant that the Saga was not just the sales volume leader for Proton, but also the best-selling A-segment sedan overall in the country, according to the company. This brings the tally for total units of the Saga sold this year so far to 9,449 units. The next best sales performer is the X70 SUV, which sold 2,320 units in March and 4,238 so far this year.

Courtesy: www.paultan.org

Digital transformation means going toward paperless and introducing software and technology basis mechanism which optimize the process, inautomotive industry the transformation is artificial intelligence which helps to identify recurring patterns in the production process, based on the data collected in real-time, to support continuous optimization, and to gain a clearer picture of the entire manufacturing process.In the automotive industry, the biggest change that has already occurred as a result of technology is that of independency in the system, process and operations. Manufacturers are in the process of developing self-driving cars on a larger scale. Companies in the automotive industry have been using robots on assembly lines to increase their productivity. Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how you operate and deliver value to customers. This is also a cultural change that requires organizations to continually challenge the status, experiment.
The great use of digital technology is to provide online customer support. For example, automobile dealerships that use online to offer their products directly to customers. Whether it’s automobiles, car components, or even accessories. Mechanics now use technology to implement an innovative diagnostics process that simplifies everything. There are now automotive diagnostics tools used to check the cause of any damage through a car’s master computer. This has done away with the need to open the hood of a vehicle to locate the source of a problem. OEMs and their suppliers can also use digital transformation to examine their processes and identify what changes they need to make in order to bring these new products to customers.Within couple of years, the automobile sector will see the creation of a separate digital, connected supply chain. It is essential for all stakeholders in the industry to digitally manage the business by creating an intelligent and digital supply chain.

Digital Transformation:
If we discuss only a digital transformation it means the upgradation of the existing processes or the introduction of new ways of carrying out business activities using digital technologies that enhance productivity rate and customer’s experience leads to higher conversion rates for the company, in simpler terms, digital transformation means redefining business processes in this new digital period. Now that we’re clear with what digital transformation entails, let’s learn what a digital transformation in the automotive industry and which areas is to be focused in transformation process, impact on customer services &challenges and problems faced in transformation revolution in automotive sector. The automotive sector has already embraced digital transformation in its design, manufacturing process, distribution, and finally retail, there are numerous excellent examples of digital transformation, ranging from product innovation, operational changes to customer-facing changes. Here we discuss the main areas of automotive sector which is basic need to digitalized and revalued organization.

Process Transformation:
As the name suggests, this approach hones in on how the business runs day by day the collaboration of your brand’s people, processes, and applications. In the digital transformation world, it refers to transforming the business processes, services, and models your company uses by introducing technology that can leverage the skills, successes, and opportunities of your team. Process transformation gives finite activities—such as data and analytics—new ways to retrieve and process information.
Business Model Transformation:
A business transformation should always be a step in the right direction for an organization. As such, this organizational change could be sought with the aim of capturing a new segment of the market, adding commercial value to the business, improving production efficiencies, or maximizing human capital, means incorporating technology because it will drive revenue and improve the customer experience, rather than just implementing technology for technology’s sake. Model transformation looks at the infinite possibilities of businesses. Think of how Netflix transformed from a mailbox DVD business to the streaming service it is today.

Organizational Transformation:
The formulation of an organizational transformation management strategy is a critical component of any modernization program and involves a systematic approach that supports both the organization and the individuals in it to plan for the change and then accept, implement, and benefit from the change.
Different people use different systems; getting everybody on the same page and willing to accept big changes can be challenging, but it will be worth it if your brand delivers an overall better outcome to your customers.
Domain Transformation:
Domain transformations occur when one business is able to slide into another area successfully. Amazon, for example, added its own streaming platform (Amazon Prime), as well as Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is now the largest cloud computing/infrastructure service. Both of these domains were formerly dominated by major players in their respective areas, but Amazon’s financial backing enabled it to make huge headway when entering these new-to-the-company markets.

Take away from this article:
An automobile is such an industry that is attracting and maintaining the focus of customers are one of the biggest challenges faced. Therefore, since it’s harder to maintain personal relationships with customers digitally, another problem arises.But you can overcome most of these challenges by adopting the right digital transformation tactics.The automotive industry is facing a paradigm shift with intelligent and data-driven operations across the business, including, production, supply chain, sales & marketing, and after-sales services. The industry needs to accelerate digital transformation with a clear focus on integrated systems solutions, data management, and analytics to create value from data. There are several technologies, such as automation, advanced robotics, machine vision, IoT, data management & analytics that will enhance operations across the value chain.

Exclusive written for Automark Magazine,
By Muhammad Rafique, Head of Production and Maintenance
Foton JW Auto Park (Pvt.) Limited