Automark

A couple of years ago I predicted that the winds of change would have to blow through the Chinese motorcycle industry for it to evolve. It was quite obvious that the industry was flagging and needed a large injection of new ideas to get it rolling again and it seems that Zongshen have taken the lead in pushing forward the reputation of the industry.

One of the serious problems facing the industry is the ‘Indian invasion’ on traditionally safe Chinese markets in Latin America and Africa. Zongshen’s reaction to this is to start a campaign which actively targets commuters in Europe and the USA. Over the next couple of years many marketing campaigns will be launched at EICMA Milan, EUROMOT Cologne and other venues which will see Zongshen changing their brand name to ‘Cyclone’ and producing high quality products for these regions.

The ‘Cyclone’ brand naming is a reaction to the Chinese industry trend of producing OEM and rebranding for just about every customer. On the European and American markets Cyclone will be the name of Zongshen’s products and there will be no rebadging much in the same was that QJiang promote their ‘Keeway’ brand in Europe.

Another boost to the Zongshen reputation comes from joint ventures and technical partnerships with international motorcycle manufacturers and parts factories. Zongshen have enjoyed a successful partnership with Piaggio for many years and share a scooter making factory in Foshan, Guangdong. In recent months Zongshen have stepped up their quest to produce better quality products as they are just about to dry the ink on an exciting new adventure which will see them collaborating with Norton to make bigger (in China 600cc is a big displacement engine) and better engines and perhaps eventually (according to Zongshen) produce a Norton motorcycle for the Asian market.

Zongshen Manager Thomas Fan stated “it’s a perfect partnership, we get to improve the quality of our bigger displacement engines and then we can help Norton to their rightful place as one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers. We initially went to David McMullan to ask him if he could advise us on whom to approach with regard to evolving our engine technology and producing bigger engines for our new market targets. David put us together with Norton and after a very successful visit to the UK we have been negotiating the terms of our agreement to get the best win/win situation. Our partnership is starting carefully but there is no reason that it can’t expand and evolve to become one of the more famous working relationships in the global motorcycle industry.”

Zongshen also have a good working relationship with Fantic of Italy. Famous old 70’s off-road brand Fantic has enjoying a renaissance in recent times and has expanded their catalogue to include street bikes. Fantic and Zongshen have collaborated to produce an excellent engine and it won’t be long before they step up to the next level with full partnership as Zongshen look to increase their influence in Europe.

Zongshen are backing up their new market campaigns with the biggest and most expensive research and development centre in the Chinese motorcycle industry. Mr. Fan reports “Zongshen are one of the only factories who have actually increased their spending on research and development and I think we have made a decent statement to the world with our new 50 million dollar facility. No one else in China has anything like what we have developed with the possible exception of Haojue and they really do not concentrate on export motorcycles. With the new facility we can concentrate on trying to produce new types of products for different markets like snowmobiles. We feel now that we are starting to get everything in place to make a big push in to Europe and the United States. We have the technical partners and also the facility to make the best of them. What we really need now is to speak to the media in the countries we are targeting and make sure that everyone knows that Zongshen, and more to the point Cyclone, is looking to become one of the major players on western markets.”

To conclude I think it’s safe to say that if Zongshen do not succeed with this new venture it is certainly not for lack of trying. Industry experts have been advising the Chinese motorcycle industry to take these measures for years, especially the decision to launch their own brands which marketing wise should be a no-brainer! I think one of the major catalysts of Zongshen’s decision will be a domino effect which will see other Chinese motorcycle companies follow suit in trying to evolve into new markets and attract partners that can improve their technical quality and know-how.

Now let’s hope they get their marketing right!

by David McMullan
[email protected]
China

www.automark.pk

 

 

For the first time in the history of country, Pakistan Association of Automobile Parts and Accessories will be exhibiting at the Distinguished Innovations, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship (DICE) exhibition which is going to be held in Sheraton Michigan, United States. DICE is an umbrella program under which there are many platforms actively working. The main objective of these platforms is to jump start cycle of innovation in the country necessary for its sustainable growth, progress and economic prosperity.

DICE is the oldest innovation platform in Pakistan and is being fully supported by major stakeholders since 2007. The exhibition will be on 25th May while next day will be an arrangement for B2B meetings, while before the exhibition the PAAPAM delegation is going to visit Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) and Ford Car production planton 24 May, they will invite OEM representative to attend the exhibition and see the products made by Pakistani vendors. PAAPAM members will also meet the local community to encourage them to invest in Pakistan, while law and order situation is much better than previously.

The main aim to attend this exhibition and visit the OEM, is to promote the export of Pakistani auto parts and accessories in the international market. The delegation will be led by Mashood Ali Khan who is the senior vice chairman of PAAPAM. The delegation is going to meet OEM tier 1 and tier 2 to brief them about the parts Pakistan can provide.

There are almost 14 Pakistani companies with 24 representative are participating in this delegation, namely: Mehran Commercial, Sherani Engineering, Faraz Industries, Auvitronics, Thal Ltd., AgriAuto Industries, Razi Sons, Automotive Spare Parts and Accessories, Noor Engineering, Yusuf Auto industries (Pvt) Ltd, Sigma Industries, Rubatech, Load Limited, Skyhigh Industries (Pvt) Ltd and General Engineering Industries.

The companies are motivated and see huge potential for Pakistani automobile spare parts and accessories in the international market. Therefore members are bearing the cost on their own. The companies have no financial support from the government however it is seen that the government of Pakistan is making positive and welcoming policies for foreign investors. The very big step taken by the government is the CPEC which is bringing in many international investors into the Pakistani market. Pakistani vendorsare already exporting auto parts to almost 40 countries across the world.

As the major goals of DICE states is to share and collaborate innovative concepts and products. Through transfer of knowledge and technology, a company can make better products and export better products. This is going to improve the economy of the country. Another major goal is to make the world aware of different variety of products produced by different companies in different countries all around the globe, which are not widely known.

A lot of effort has been done by members of DICE foundation and PAAPAM to manage this trp. The participants are determined to attend the exhibition and are hopeful to receive orders from different companies operating all around the globe.

Introduction:

The feeling of owning a car is one of those enchanting feelings that every man wants to cherish with the key in the hand of a vehicle he owns. Due to financial barriers and the strict measures of car financing companies, this feeling goes to the grave with almost half of the lot. In Pakistan, in order to abate the outburst that may cause due to the involvement of foreign financing companies on one hand, and due to their non-conformable payment conditions, Islamic Car Financing has been introduced by the banks and financing companies all over the country. Here in this article, we are going to list some of the most prominent Islamic Car Financing banks along with the benefits, which are providing the customers with their dream cars under the terms and conditions of Islamic Loan system. PakWheels provides Car Loan Calculator facility on its website to calculate monthly loan payment installment for each bank.

Islamic Car Financing Banks:

1. Dubai Islamic Bank:

 

Being crowned as the No. 1 Islamic car financing bank, Dubai Islamic Bank comes with the provision of lowest installment rate and the markup as well. The salient features that are being offered by Dubai Islamic Bank are:

 

• This bank is offering the lowest insurance rate in the market, than any other car financing firm.
• You can choose a time span for the payment from a period of 1 to 7 years.
• The best point is, no any additional charges or rental payments are to be paid by the customer in lieu of the advance payment, till the day your vehicle arrives at your doorstep.
• Lowest markup rate is 100,000 PKR and the highest markup is 500,000 PKR.

 

2. Faysal Bank Car Financing:

Faysal Bank is at the second place in providing quality and hassle free services to its customers. The vital points that make it distinguished from those who follows it, are as under:

• This bank provides relaxation on selecting the cars either they are local or imported.
• The payment time span varies from 1 to 5 years.
• It also provides the facility of advance booking, just in case you are a car enthusiast and can’t wait for much.

3. Bank AlFalah Auto Car Financing:

Bank AlFalah, another well-known conglomerate in the Islamic banking, have also stepped in the race of Islamic car financing and has added Islamic Banking Car Financing Calculator on-site as well, in order to get the customers to calculate even the minute details about what they are going to step into and under what payment plan. The benefits, this bank is offering as follows:

• Customers are free to choose from a list of new or used cars.
• After the car has been selected, again the payment plan and the rate is also set by the customer himself, in order to avoid any monetary inconvenience in the future.
• A groundbreaking feature is a relaxation being offered in selecting the fixed or the variable payment plan.
• No any charges, in the case of termination, are charged from the customers.
• Minimum documentation is required if you are applying for a vehicle from AlFalah Car Insurance.

4. Meezan Bank Car Financing:

Also known by the name of Meezan Bank Car Ijarah, it also provides its customers the best Islamic car financing services strictly under the shariah law. It also has its own formula being used by many customers in its Islamic car financing calculator. Its distinguishing features are as follows:

• The lessor has the ownership, unless or until the contract has been ended.
• According to a provision in the shariah law, that the asset will lie with the user, the lessor, on the other hand, will have liability rights over the vehicle.
• In case the vehicle gets stolen, the insurance company will keep charging the rent till the claimed amount has been recovered.

FAW–Volkswagen Automotive Company announced it would build a fifth vehicle factory, in the port city of Tianjin, as it looks to increase its exposure to growing demand in the world’s largest vehicle market.

FAW-VW is a joint venture established in 1991 between Volkswagen and China’s FAW Group, producing Volkswagen- and Audi-branded passenger vehicles for sale mainly in China. It is one of VW’s two main vehicle-producing joint ventures in the country, with production at around 1.65m vehicles in 2015.

Volkswagen’s other joint venture in China is Shanghai-Volkswagen, with production of around 1.72m units last year. VW group sales in mainland China and Hong Kong total led 3.55m units last year, including 177,000 imported vehicles.

Construction of the new fully-integrated plant will begin this month, with production scheduled to start in 2018. Total spending earmarked for this project is reportedly CNY19.5bn (around US$3bn) for a plant with annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year.

The world’s second largest economy and the biggest car market by volume, China is expected to have 1 billion licensed drivers in the next 15 years. Taking advantage of this, Volkswagen Group has already announced it will incest €18.2 billion ($24.7 billion) in development and production facilities through 2018.
At full capacity it is expected to employ about 6,000 people. FAW-Volkswagen’s other plants are scattered in different locations in China, including Changchun, Foshan, Chengdu and Qingdao.

A detailed introduction of the latest features in newly launched Honda Civic along with its tag price in Pakistan, is all that can be read in this article

Honda Civic, a Luxurious Sedan:

Honda Civic, for most of the readers, just the name may convey the charm and style that it comes with. For the rest, we would like to introduce this vehicle as the “Dream Car” of every automobile enthusiast in Pakistan. From the tech-savvy interior to the amazingly crafted exterior, this car blows off everyone’s mind whenever the latest model is introduced in the market. The Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan), in the latest annual report, revealed the highest increase in the sales that amounted to 54% this year within a time span of at just nine months. This boon recorded in the selling percentage is being attributed to two major factors namely the increase in local demand and economical cost of this car.

Features:

The latest Honda Civic comes with a bunch of new features, most of them are the refined form of the features from the previous versions of the car yet, many are new and mentioned as below:

Interior:

The concept of the digital speedometer in sedans being shipped to Pakistan were firstly introduced by Honda in its 2006 Model Honda Civic Car. The latest Honda Civic also inherits the same feature but with much alteration and improvements in the speedometer display case. The display case in front of the pilot seat is divided into three panels that give a bit more explicit and a clear view of the stats of your car. The Honda Connect Multimedia system comes with all new 7-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen that gives the driver and the passengers a splendid feeling to control the media buttons, navigate maps freely, and parking the car with much precision with the display of the rear on screen, with the help of a rear camera. The connect to phone feature via Bluetooth is another amazing provision that has ruled out the concept of long/small aux cables that tangles with the gear shaft and with your feet whenever you enter or leave the car. Another cool feature that it comes with is the smoked sunroof glass that gives the interior a more natural look. The leather covered seats add to the elegance and charm to the extent that makes it more attractive and eye-catching.

Exterior:

Whenever we talk about the exterior of Honda Civic, its elegance and charm are quite of its own like and an epitome of its kind. Amongst the models that have been introduced in Honda Civic, the uplift version of Honda Civic 2010 model garnered much appreciation as it came with all extended features and till now, is being considered the car with unmatched streak whose looks are being inherited by every succeeding model. The sharp looks that it exhibits from the front, the cross cut design of steel-enforced grill and the integrated daytime headlights, are enough to dazzle the eyes of the onlookers. The best part is the location of side indicators that distinguishes the design of all new Honda Civic 2016 from its counterparts. The rear bumper is more stylish and has the built in a spoiler with stylish rear lights that imitate the design of a boomerang.

Pricing Details:

Honda Civic price in Pakistan starts from 2 Million PKR and goes up to 2.35 Million PKR. The Honda Civic Car finance calculators have been added on almost every site in order to calculate the price of Honda Civic cars. The major platforms where you can buy Honda Civic cars in Pakistan are the virtual garages being run online like OLX Cars Islamabad, considering the most cars being searched under Islamabad’s registration number. Keeping the style, elegance, looks, designs and features of this car, it is being considered as the pure blend of perfection and is the most sought after car since its new models are breaking their own sales records.

Get detailed information about Honda Civic latest features and price in Pakistan, PakWheels provides comprehensive information about all the latest models of Honda including Honda Civic, Honda City and Honda Vezel.

 

Dancing robots, emotional speeches and a friendly “rivalry” between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel: HANNOVER MESSE 2016 began on Sunday evening with a high-caliber opening ceremony.
We want to build on the spirit of innovation in the USA,” said POTUS Barack Obama in his opening speech. This spirit has been driven by Germany and HANNOVER MESSE, especially over the past 70 years. Obama added that the USA has now created new production facilities, subsidy schemes and jobs in recent years to help reach this goal.
In what is likely his last visit to Germany as President, Obama spoke in particular about the TTIP free trade agreement. He believes that there are too many obstacles restricting trade between the EU and the USA. Different regulations and standards lead to higher costs. Therefore, one of TTIP’s aims is to establish harmonized high standards.
Politicians and the industry agree on TTIP

Obama also promoted the USA as a production location for European companies. Angela Merkel gladly took the opportunity to respond: “We love competition. But we also like to win,” replied the German Chancellor.
A challenge with a smile. In her speech, Merkel emphasized that cooperation is essential for the future of industrial production – in a transatlantic partnership. “We in the EU want to lead the way, together with the USA,” said the Chancellor, referring above all to the development of global communication and IT standards for integrated industry.
Germany has always been ahead in bringing up innovative technology and products to the market. Yet again the grand event being held at Germany has been doing great. Companies from all over the world have participated and presented their innovations.
Pakistan is nowhere behind, the ministry of commerce made sure that Pakistan can present itself in the international fair of Germany. As many as 32 companies have participated in the fair from Pakistan and huge success is seen till date. The companies are named as; Omar Jibran Engineering Industries Ltd.,The General Tyre and Rubber company of Pakistan Ltd, AuVitronics Limited, Noor Engineering Services Ltd, Thal Engineering, International Industries Ltd, Dawood Engineering Ltd, Pakistan Wire Industries Ltd, EZZI Engineering, Galaxy Engineering, Western industries, FAS Tube Mills and Engineering Industries, Razzaq Engineering Works, Mughal Innovations Ltd, Mecas Engineering Ltd, Ali Tech (Pvt) Ltd., AlNoor Refractories Ltd, T.M Rubber Ltd, Matchless Engineering, Breeze Frost Industries, AE Desing Ltd, Scon Valves, Dendrite Metal Processing, Chenab Engineering Works and Foundries Ltd, Alpine Industriaicon Ltd, Darson Industries, Eehabs Engineering Company Ltd, Fibre Craft Industries, Thermosole Industries ltd, Precision Forging ltd, Mistequay International, NES Enineering and last but not the least Concept Ltd, while Technopack Industries and A-One Technique were participate under umbrella of CBI pavilion.
Participating such event is very good for a country and it presents the image of the country. Pakistani companies had been missing this event since the last 8 years due to no funds and motivation. The government this time made sure that Pakistan can represent itself too.
Such global events being held should be a benchmark for Pakistan and the government should learn and try to organize such events in Pakistan as well. The reason why events like Hannover Messe are important for Pakistan is that each and every company is going to benefit from it. There will be recognition of local companies all around the globe which is going to increase the economic situation of the country itself because of international demand and more exports.
The feedback received from Pakistani companies present at the event is positive and the companies are motivated to meet the international demand and increase their services as much as possible. All in all it is a good step taken which is eventually going to benefit Pakistan itself.
Feedback from Pakistani Exhibitors was recorded by Editor-in-Chief of Automark, Mr. Hanif Memon as he were also attended the ongoing event. He received feedback was positive and the exhibitors were very motivated. Pakistani companies are looking forward to participate in such events in future as well. It can be said that holding such technical fair is easy for Germany because technological and engineering industry accounts for major earning in their economy where as on the other hand Pakistan lacks in excelling in both industries. Exhibitions related to agriculture can be held in Pakistan where different countries can be invited who have agriculture based economy to learn and share their experience.

After the gap of eight long years, the Engineering Development Board (EDB) is preparing Pakistan to become the part of this event. The finances are going to be raised by ministry of commerce through export development funds. A group of 15-20 delegates from leading technical universities is going to accompany the delegation. Monthly AutoMark magazine’s editor-in-chief also going to attend this year’s fair.

As many as 32 prominent engineering product exporters from Pakistan will participate in Hannover Messe, the world’s largest fair of industrial products. The event is going to be held in Hannover, Germany from April 25^th to29^{th 2016.}

An official of Ministry of Commerce said: “About 5000 exhibitor from across the world will be showcasing their latest technologies for factories and energy systems at the exhibition;The setting up of the Pakistan pavilion after a long hiatus at the world’s largest industrial fair is a step in the right direction,”

“While 34% of the international trade is in engineering goods, Pakistan’s export of engineering products is barely 1% of total exports of the country,” he said. “On the other hand, textiles constitute around 56% of Pakistan’s exports but its share in international trade is only 4%.”

Attending such events for Pakistan is important to boost its exports and participating in such events has been a priority in the strategic policy framework 2015-18. With the increase in the current situation of the country the government of Pakistan should held such programs in our own homeland and invite delegations and companies from all around the globe to visit and showcase their technology. Also this can be an excellent opportunity for other countries to have a look at the highly potential market of Pakistan. The Pakistani market has tremendous amounts of potential and majority of the market is untapped which should surely be an incentive for companies because of good profit margins.

The twin earthquakes that struck southern Japan were having ripple effects far beyond the disaster zone, forcing Toyota to suspend production at most of its factories across the country, and affecting other manufacturers as well.

The quake damaged Honda’s motorcycle plant in Kumamoto, the largest city affected by the two quakes that hit late Thursday and early Saturday, killing at least 42 people. Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index tumbled more than 3 percent Monday in part on worries over quake repercussions as well as a spike in the yen and a drop in oil prices.

But the economic impact is nowhere near as large as the havoc wreaked by the 2011 quake and tsunami disasters, which slammed supply chains so badly that Japanese automakers’ production was halted even in the U.S. They learned the hard way about their vulnerability to such interruptions, especially from second- and third-tier suppliers, and have worked to create contingency plans.

Disasters tend to hobble Japan’s mighty manufacturers because they are supported by small machine shops that provide components to bigger suppliers, which in turn supply bigger players.

“That kind of lesson has been learned,” said Nissan Motor Co. spokesman Dion Corbett. “We now have maps that show where exactly the suppliers are.”

Nissan’s two plants in Kyushu were temporarily shut down after the quakes for checkups. The checks found damage was minor, allowing the plants to be resume operations on Monday, Corbett said.

Some of the worst-affected areas are deep in the mountains surrounding Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano, an area renowned for dairy farming. But one of the hardest-hit cities was Mashiki, a center for semiconductor fabrication and other manufacturing.

Sony Corp. said its sensor and device plant in Kumamoto was closed. Although the building’s structure was intact and no employees were injured, the precise nature of the production processes requires that delicately calibrated equipment must be checked carefully.

“The impact to near-term economic activity looks inevitable, while the comprehensive picture is difficult to gauge now, particularly due to the continued aftershocks,” Masamichi Adachi of J.P. Morgan said in a commentary.

Overall, the risk to the outlook for growth is “to the downside,” he said.

In trading Monday, Toyota’s shares lost 4.8 percent, Nissan lost 2.8 percent and Sony shed 6.8 percent.

Renesas Electronics Corp.’s computer chip plant in Kumamoto city was also shuttered, spokeswoman Makie Uehara said. It was unclear when production would resume. Gases that can be dangerous are used to maintain antiseptic conditions for chip production, and so safety had to be confirmed before other damage could be checked.

Toyota Motor Corp., the most heavily affected of the big car makers, has stopped production not only at a factory in Kyushu but at 15 others in Japan through Friday. Output will resume depending on the availability of parts.

Toyota’s Japan output will drop by 50,000 vehicles in April, or about 7 percent of Japan production, according to a report on the quake’s effects on automakers by SMBC Nikko. Toyota declined to comment on that estimate.

Critically affected parts include door frames, door hinges and cast-aluminum engine parts, said Toyota spokesman Itsuki Kurosu. The maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models was working hard to get substitute parts, he said.

Honda Motor Corp.’s motorcycle plant was severely damaged. Due to repeated aftershocks, it was unsafe even to go inside to carefully inspect the damage, said company spokesman Teruhiko Tatebe. Production has been stopped until at least Friday.

So far, production at Honda’s auto plants has not been affected, Tatebe said. The company did not rule out future supply problems.

A few Chinese brands gain international acclaim among other industry leaders from around the globe. These companies have
stepped out of the dark ages of small engined motorcycles and are on a level playing field in both technological advancements
and innovation

First off, I’d like to categorically state that nobody on our staff writers’ team is psychic, at least as far as we know. The following piece is pure speculation and hope for what lies ahead for the industry as a whole. While the future is difficult to predict accurately without advanced computer modelling and trend observation we can use the progress of the motorcycle industry in general to make an educated guess as to what might be in store for us. The next few decades look to be very exciting for anybody involved in the scene and if any of these predictions are on the mark then it will be a great thing to be part of progress that gets us there whether by playing a small part or a large one.
10 years from now – 2026
A decade has passed since you would have read this article and the first noticeable difference is in customer services; factory agents now command advanced English skills and are on the ball and organised, Chinese company websites have been overhauled and brought into a functional, professional state, long gone are the days of miscommunication with contacts possessing the language skills of a three year old and website interfaces are now at an international industry standard.
The powers-that-be have brought the hammer down on rouge Chinese factories scamming foreign customers or producing the lowest quality bikes. Instead, the first tier companies have moved into the high-end leisure market competing with the Japanese and European marques both on and off the track. Hints of carbon fibre and space grade aluminium are making their way onto top of the line models. Quality control has stepped up its game and is only allowing the most well build bikes onto the market.
The second and third tier companies produce for the agrarian sector both home and abroad and even they are incorporating up to date fuel management systems and reliable tech and safety features like so many of the bikes from the 2010’s featured.
20 years from now -2036
A few Chinese brands gain international acclaim among other industry leaders from around the globe. These companies have stepped out of the dark ages of small engined motorcycles and are on a level playing field in both technological advancements and innovation. They do battle on the track and leisure riders take pride in owning a Chinese machine from one of the greats. The bikes are pushing forward in prowess; Dakar, Isle of Man, world circuits and the open road, they each claim their places in history.
Production standards for these big marques are equal to any other and the quality of the smaller companies building regular commuter and farmer bikes levels out and in doing so the reputation of Chinese bikes being poor quality disappears. The lower end producers cut their losses and move into other industries leaving the building of motorcycles to a smaller, better qualified group of companies.
As technology improves and bikes become more digitalised we see the introduction of electrichybrids and ethanol internal combustion engines. As the dino-juice becomes more expensive the industry moves to expand into new fuel systems employing engines designed for biofuel and electricity from on-board generators. Cheap metals are a thing of the past; high grade alloys and carbon fibre comprise the bodywork, engines are refined and durable while being low maintenance and stock from the factory the bike comes with world renowned rubber from Continental, Pirelli or Michelin.
30 year from now – 2046
Chinese motorcycles no longer bear a resemblance to the machines of the decades passed and are only distant cousins, as close as a 1948 BSA Bantam is to a 2008 Honda CG. Technological improvements in suspension, fuel systems, gearboxes, aerodynamics and electrical systems have made the bike into the most efficient vehicle next to a bicycle. It is now considered a tough choice to pick between a Japanese, European and Chinese motorcycle. Autonomous pilot systems have made driving a car as boring as taking a flight and motorcycles have become the go-to for those with a passion for tearing up the black top. Personal rockets ships of the modern age, perfectly balanced after decades of fine tuning and refinement. Companies merge internationally, sharing concepts and developments resulting in pristine products. Safety features and protective gear have come on leaps and bounds to make rider fatalities from traffic accidents a rare thing indeed.
Riding popularity increases across economic classes and motorcycles become as numerous as cars throughout the world. Thanks to the improvements in safety tech the motorcycle is now the safest way to travel and is still more reliable than the car. The leaders of the world declare that motorcycles are the saviour of humanity and throw down their arms, ending all wars and bringing global peace to mankind for the first time in millennia.
Ok, so maybe the last bit was a tad too optimistic but world peace by way of motorcycles would be the coolest part of history ever written. Fantasy or not, the future of the Chinese motorcycle industry is awaited with high expectations and even higher hopes.

Exclusive written for Monthly AutoMark Magazine

By David McMullan CEO, C2W Media and Consulting – China

 

How to Import Car from Japan to Pakistan?

Imported cars have gained much support and attention from Pakistani auto consumers in last year or so. The imports are all time high. And considering the low fuel costs now a days, the trend has gotten quite common to go through a car import process. You can either buy one from car import dealers in the open market, or you can use PakWheels Car Import section to find a suitable ride. You can get a pretty accurate idea about imported cars in Pakistan on PakWheels.com and then navigate your way through there.

How can you Import Yourself?

But if you want to import a car from Japan to Pakistan yourself on your own, you can do that. But you need to be cautious. There are a lot of hoaxers, and you need to carefully. But if you have decided to do so, first you need to know the basics of the car import business. There are auction houses in japan that sell cars. You log into their database through their websites and bid on the vehicle you desire. Find one of those car import portals and sign up with your details.

What is Auction Sheet?

From there, you will find details of all the cars that are available for the auction. Their makes, models, year and other details about their specs, etc. You then will select one of the cars, the make, and model that you can see on the site, and when going in details, you will find its auction sheet as well. Auction sheet is your best tool in car import business to save yourself from buying a wrong vehicle. You will see details of time and date of the auction, the minimum bid, etc. And when you are final about the car, you need to deposit around USD 1000 in auction company’s account. It’s sort of an initial payment to make sure you are serious buyer. One you have made the transaction, you can now bid on the cars.

Get your Vehicle through Auction

After you have successfully bought the car, the company sends original documents via courier before the shipment of the vehicle. Those documents are original Invoice, original Export certificate in Japanese, translated export certificate in English, and two copies of original B/L (bill of lading). And you will be able to get your car from Karachi Port Trust in approximately 15 days. Now hire a customs agent and get your vehicle.

Avoid Scammers!

The imported car buying can get confusing especially if you end at the doors of shady vehicle importers. They will try their best to sell you any cheap defective imported cars that they bought of imported for cheap to make maximum profit. Since car import from Japan is on the rise nowadays, it can get tricky to find a trustworthy car import business. And also, custom duty on cars can get confusing for a new buyer.

There are many imported cars in Pakistan on PakWheels.com as well. You can get PakWheels CarSure Certification program to help you find a decent imported car in Pakistan. You might be spending money on otherwise what is known as a lemon. Dealing in car import and imported cars on your own can be a risky business. You need a trusted partner to make sure you don’t waste your investment.

Conclusions

Another issue is the discrepancies in prices of imported cars in Pakistan. There are so many variants and trims of cars, and there are so many variables involved, like the import grade of the car, the model and year of the car, custom duty on imported cars, and its overall condition, etc. that it can be hard to have a decent idea of imported car prices in Pakistan. You might think you are buying a car at a reasonable price, but the car itself might not be worth half that money.