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In a significant setback to the Prime Minister’s green mobility initiative, commercial banks in Pakistan have rejected a staggering 91% of applications for subsidized electric bikes. Out of 44,689 applications forwarded to financial institutions, only 4,075 were approved, representing a meager 9% success rate. This lack of enthusiasm from the banking sector has forced the federal government to overhaul its strategy to meet the ambitious targets of the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) program. Failure to Meet Annual Targets The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) was informed that the government is on track to miss its annual goal of distributing 116,000 electric bikes this fiscal year. Despite the imposition of a “climate support levy” of Rs2.5 per litre on petrol and diesel to fund this transition, the actual distribution remains abysmal. Currently, only 4.5% of the fiscal year’s target has been met. The poor response from banks has necessitated a pivot toward self-financing options and direct manufacturer-to-consumer subsidies to bypass traditional banking delays. Promoting Self-Financing and New Options To salvage the program, the government is now prioritizing a self-finance model where the role of banks is minimized. Under the revised policy, applicants can receive an electric vehicle directly from suppliers at a discounted rate, with the government providing a cost-sharing subsidy. In contrast to the low bank approval rate, the self-finance option has already shown a 99% success rate among initial applicants. The ECC has also introduced a specific scheme for government employees (BS-16 and below), allowing them to acquire bikes with a small upfront payment of Rs10,000 and interest-free installments.

April 29, 2026: Indus Motor Company has achieved a place among the top Toyota manufacturing affiliates across the Asia Pacific region after winning Excellence Quality Award, Warranty Reduction Award, and Zero Field Action Award for the third consecutive year by Toyota Motor Asia. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/mehmood-arshad-appointed-chairman-of-economic-council-by-employers-federation-of-pakistan-efp/ The Asia Production Quality Awards are presented annually by Toyota Motor Asia and have recognised outstanding quality performance among Asia Pacific manufacturing companies since 2011. IMC received all these three awards for the third year in a row in 2025 after meeting strict customer quality KPIs with a cumulative score exceeding 80% out of 200 points, which represents the highest standards of quality within Toyota’s regional manufacturing network. The company recorded zero field actions across all models, exceeded its warranty reduction target, and achieved zero defects per vehicle in Toyota Motor Asia’s Shipping Quality Audit. Out of nine Toyota affiliates evaluated in the region, only six received the Excellence Quality Award in CY25, with IMC proudly among them and the only Pakistani automotive manufacturer on that list. Commenting on the achievement, Ali Asghar Jamali, CEO of IMC, said, “Receiving all three quality awards for the third consecutive year reflects the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines every individual at IMC. This recognition reinforces our position not just as Pakistan’s leading automotive manufacturer, but also as a quality benchmark within Toyota’s global network.”

Karachi : Pakistan’s fast-evolving SUV market is beginning to see a new layer of competition — not just between brands, but within the same global automotive groups. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/the-magnum-ice-cream-company-appoints-mert-turgut-as-general-manager-pakistan/ A case in point is the comparison emerging between the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and the Jaecoo J7 two different brands under the umbrella of Chery, a Chinese automobile giant. At first glance, the two vehicles appear to target similar buyers — modern SUV customers looking for electrification, performance, and technology. But a closer look reveals a more nuanced reality as both vehicles are built on closely related platforms, share core engineering, and deliver near-identical hybrid performance — yet are priced differently in the Pakistani market, almost 1 million rupees difference. The Tiggo 7 PHEV enters as a C-segment plug-in hybrid built on Chery’s latest Super Hybrid architecture. It combines a 1.5TGDI engine with an 18.3 kWh battery and a dedicated hybrid transmission, producing strong power output and delivering up to 90 km of pure electric range and a combined range of around 1,200 km. These are numbers that place it firmly among the most capable electrified SUVs currently available locally. The Jaecoo J7, meanwhile, is part of Chery’s newer sub-brand strategy aimed at more design-led and lifestyle-oriented positioning. While it introduces a distinct exterior identity — more rugged, upright, and off-road inspired — its underlying engineering DNA remains closely aligned with Chery’s existing hybrid platforms. This is not unusual in the global auto industry. Shared platforms across different brands — often referred to as “badge engineering” — are common practice. In Pakistan, however, where price sensitivity remains a key factor, such comparisons are beginning to influence buying decisions more directly. With an estimated price gap of close to Rs 1 million between the two, the Tiggo 7 PHEV positions itself as a high-value proposition — offering comparable hybrid technology, performance output, and core features at a more accessible entry point. For many buyers, especially those transitioning from conventional petrol SUVs, this difference is not marginal — it materially impacts affordability and ownership economics. Beyond pricing, the Tiggo7 also aligns closely with current market realities. With fuel prices remaining elevated and unpredictable, plug-in hybrid vehicles offer a practical middle ground — enabling daily commutes on electric power while retaining the flexibility of a combustion engine for longer journeys. Industry observers note that as more global brands introduce sub-brands and overlapping product lines, consumer awareness around platforms, powertrains, and real-world value is increasing. Buyers are no longer evaluating vehicles purely on exterior styling or badge perception, but increasingly on underlying engineering and cost efficiency. In that context, the Tiggo 7 PHEV’s positioning becomes clearer. It is not merely competing on features or design — it is competing on value for technology. As Pakistan’s hybrid segment expands, such intra-group comparisons are likely to become more common. And, for consumers, the key question may no longer be which vehicle looks different — but which one delivers more for what they pay.