KARACHI: Auto sales shrank by 0.4 per cent year-on-year to 9,885 units in August thanks to a significant recovery in sales of Suzuki models during the month under review, data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (Pama) showed on Thursday.

Cumulative sales in the first two months of current fiscal year increased to 20,008 units as sales during the month of July stood at 10,123 units.

Data released by the Pama showed sales of all Suzuki vehicles performed better in August. For instance, 733 units of WagonR were sold during the month under review compared to 566 units in July. As a result, 2MFY21 sales of the Pak Suzuki Motor Company dropped 13pc to 1,299 units - a significant recovery from the 70-75pc decline recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

Bolan sales rose to 615 units in August from 519 units in July while total two-month sales of the variant swelled by 61pc to 1,134 units.

With a paltry drop of 1pc to 2,477 units in July-Aug, sales of Cultus stood higher at 1,400 units in August as against 1,077 units in July.

Sales of Suzuki Swift increased by 12pc to 378 units in the first two months of current fiscal year, while August sales rose to 196 units.

Sales of Alto variant suffered a 43pc fall to 4,547 units in 2MFY21 while sales in August increased to 2,389 units from 2,158 units in July.

Toyota Corolla sales stood lower by 35pc to 2,395 units after production closure of XLI and GLI models by the Indus Motor Company (IMC), replacing them with Toyota Yaris. According to Pama data, Yaris sales in July-August stood at 3,588 units.

Meanwhile, a 64pc hike was recorded in sales of Honda Civic and City to 4,190 units in the two months despite decline in sales during August to 1,980 from 2,210 units in July.

In LCVs, jeeps and vans, sales of Honda BR-V rose by 19pc to 535 units while its August sales inched up to 278 units from 257 in July. Production and sales of Hyundai Tucson, the new entrant to the SUV category stood at 84 and 22 units respectively in August.

Toyota Fortuner sales grew by 65pc to 267 units despite a drop in August sales to 121 units from 146 in July.

A total of 1,159 units of Suzuki Ravi were sold in July-Aug compared to 1,162 units in the same period last fiscal year, while Toyota Hilux sales surged by 54pc to 1,100 units in the last two months and also in August to 614 units from 486 units in July.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2020