Auto sales rev up in October

Car, van, pickup and SUV sales surge 32pc year-on-year

By Aamir Shafaat Khan

KARACHI: Pakistan's automotive market showed strong growth in October, with sales of cars, vans, pickups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) rising to 17,333 units, marking a 32 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase and a modest 1pc month-on-month (MoM) rise.

According to Myesha Sohail of Topline Securities, the YoY growth reflects a stabilising macroeconomic environment, introduction of new variants, lower interest rates, easing inflation, and improving consumer sentiment.

MoM sales remained largely unchanged, mainly due to an 18pc decline in Pakistan Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) volumes amid a company-wide reset. The discontinuation of models such as Ravi, Bolan, Every VX, and Wagon R led to MoM declines of 17pc, 84pc, and 28pc in Swift, Ravi, and Every, respectively. Bolan, meanwhile, has seen no sales since May 2025.

Cumulative sales in the first four months of FY26 rose 46pc to 59,600 units, compared to 40,693 units in the same period last year.

Indus Motor Company (IMC) posted the highest MoM growth, with sales climbing 44pc to 4,529 units. Corolla, Yaris, and Cross models collectively rose 41pc MoM and 78pc YoY to 3,742 units, while Fortuner and IMVs jumped 58pc MoM and 83pc YoY to 787 units. IMC's four-month sales stood at 14,418 units, up 66pc YoY.

Hyundai Nishat reported the higher YoY growth among automakers, rising 82pc to 1,086 units in October, led robust demand for Tucson and Elanta models, MoM sales, however, fell eight per cent. Total sales in July-October FY26 reached 4,698 units, up 81 per cent YoY.

Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) recorded a 72pc YoY and 13pc MoM increase in October, with City and Civic models driving growth to 2,247 units. In 4MFY26, HACL sales surged 54 per cent to 7,487 units.

PSMC saw its October sales drop 18pc MoM to 7,403 units, primarily due to declines in Swift, Ravi, and Every. YoY sales increased slightly by 1pc. In 4MFY26, total Pak Suzuki sales rose 33pc YoY to 27,234 units.

Two- and three-wheeler sales surge

Sales of two- and three-wheelers increased 20pc YoY and 4pc MoM, reaching 165,500 units in October, nearing a four-year high. In 4MFY26, total sales climbed 30pc YoY to 597,000 units. Atlas Honda Limited (AHL) set a new record, selling 140,178 CD70 motorcycles in October, surpassing its September 2025 record.

Tractor sales jumped 67pc YoY and 265pc MoM to 2,886 units in October, boosted by the Punjab Green Tractor Scheme. However, 4MFY26 sales fell 15pc to 5,867 units.

Truck and bus sales surged 118pc YoY in October, though they dipped seven per cent MoM to 766 units. In the first four months of FY26, sales had risen 106pc to 2,630 units.

Outlook for FY26

Myesha Sohail expects the positive momentum in Pakistan's auto sector to continue in FY26, driven by lower interest rates and the launch of new models across conventional, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid engines.

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