Car sales rise 60pc in October as Suzuki Alto leads
PAMA data show 21,635 units sold against 13,513 a year earlier, with small cars taking 55 per cent of the market and production trailing sales by 5,523 units.
Passenger car sales rose 60 per cent in October to 21,635 units from 13,513 a year earlier, according to Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) figures, with small cars accounting for most of the increase.
Sales were 98 per cent higher than September's 10,939 units. Production fell five per cent month-on-month to 16,112 units from 17,040, though it was up 6.6 per cent from 15,112 units in October 2025. Sales exceeded production by 5,523 units during the month.
Cars below 1,000cc sold 11,885 units, up 118 per cent year-on-year and close to 55 per cent of the total. The Suzuki Alto accounted for 11,363 of them, against 4,931 a year earlier and 3,354 in September. Suzuki Every sales were 522 units, against 516 in October 2025.
In the 1,000cc segment, Suzuki Cultus sales rose 26 per cent to 653 units from 517, having managed 138 units in September.
Sales of cars with engines of 1,300cc and above rose 20 per cent year-on-year to 9,061 units and 30 per cent from September. Suzuki Swift sales jumped 175 per cent to 3,214 units from 1,170. Toyota's Corolla, Yaris and Corolla Cross together sold 3,496 units, down seven per cent year-on-year. Honda Civic and City sales fell 14 per cent to 1,933 units. Hyundai Elantra sold 401 units, up 23 per cent, and 17 Sonatas were sold. Dewan's Honri-Ve electric vehicle recorded 36 units, against 20 a year earlier and 42 in September.
For July to October, car sales rose 48 per cent to 63,507 units from 42,831, and production rose 24 per cent to 63,726 units. Cumulative sales of cars above 1,300cc rose 42 per cent to 32,666 units, those below 1,000cc rose 62 per cent to 29,161, and the 1,000cc category fell 15 per cent to 1,479.
ProPakistani reported the overall market as up 41 per cent year-on-year and led its report on Toyota and Honda sales falling while the wider market grew.
Jeep and pickup sales fell 27 per cent year-on-year to 2,783 units in October and 33 per cent from September, with production down 40 per cent month-on-month to 2,959 units. PAMA linked the pressure on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles to uncertainty over their sales tax treatment. Cumulative sales in the segment were down 32 per cent.
Truck and bus sales rose 33 per cent year-on-year to 1,018 units and nine per cent from September; cumulative sales were up 42 per cent and production 55 per cent. Tractor sales rose 44 per cent to 4,154 units and 129 per cent from September, which PAMA tied to the Punjab Green Tractor Scheme. Two- and three-wheeler sales rose 22 per cent to 199,908 units, one per cent below September.
PAMA said the government had not consulted the industry since June 2026, when the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Engineering Development Board last met it, and warned that the delay in announcing a new auto policy was affecting purchasing decisions while inventories built up. Sania Irfan of Topline Research said she expected double-digit growth in FY27, helped by new variants and additional brands entering the market.
How the reports differ
Minute Mirror put the year-on-year rise in passenger car sales at 60 per cent, to 21,635 units, on PAMA data, and led on the Suzuki Alto's 11,363 units. ProPakistani reported a 41 per cent year-on-year jump in its headline and led on Toyota and Honda sales falling while the wider market grew. Only Minute Mirror gave the segment figures behind that: Toyota's Corolla, Yaris and Corolla Cross at 3,496 units, down seven per cent, and Honda Civic and City at 1,933 units, down 14 per cent.
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