Trade Chronicle Jan Feb 2019 Issue

TRADE CHRONICLE
GNL to start production of
three Nissan models in 2020
Commercial production of three Nissan
models will begin in the second
half of 2020. “We will begin with the
assembly of a 1,200cc Datsun Cross
in July 2020 and then roll out the
1,200cc Datsun Go (five seater) and
Datsun Go Plus (seven seater) in the
next two to three months,” Ghandhara
Nissan Ltd (GNL) Project Director and
Senior Executive Director Marketing
and Sales Muazzam Pervez Khan told
media recently.
“The company has also selected at
least 22 vendors for making parts of
these vehicles,” he added. Talking
about the localisation level in these
three variants, he said the company
plans to achieve 35-40 per cent indigenisation
in the next three years after
an initial start of 18pc.
“Prices have so far not been fixed as
much will depend on rupee-dollar parity
in future,” he said. “GNL will invest
Rs6.5 billion (about $47 million) over
the first four years,”
Khan said, adding
that Nissan and GNL
would work together
to develop Ghandhara’s
facilities at
Karachi’s Port Qasim
into a world-class
manufacturing plant.
The brownfield project
would create
around 1,800 jobs.
“We have planned
to start production
of these three vehicles with 15,000
units a year and then will take it up to
35,000 units in the next five years,”
Khan added. On further introduction
of new models, he said, “Our talks are
going on with Nissan but nothing has
finalised yet.”
GNL and Nissan held the first major
event for parts suppliers since announcing
local production last year.
The event was attended by more than
35 local parts supplier companies.
Nissan and GNL shared plans on support
for the local component sectors
including the introduction of world
class production processes, ongoing
skills sharing and training.
Meanwhile, CEO, GNL Ahmad Kuli
Khan Khattak said the company is
committed to offering the strongest
support to the component industry.
“This event demonstrates how we
will collaborate closely to provide our
customers with an expanded choice
of products and a fantastic ownership
experience,” he said. He said Nissan’s
entry would provide Pakistani
customers with a fresh and desirable
line-up designed and built with modern
Japanese engineering. Nissan’s
Regional Vice President for the Africa,
Middle East and India region, Masahiko
Sakamoto said GNL and Nissan
are actively working to enhance and
support the local automotive sector in
its ongoing development.
The Ministry of Industries and Production
(MoIP), earlier in 2018, had
awarded brownfield investment status
to GNL under the Auto Development
Policy 2016-21 for revival of an existing
industry or facility for the manufacturing
of Datsun cars.
The joint venture between GNL and
Nissan Motors would provide a significant
boost to the automotive industry,which
already accounts for about
4pc of Pakistan’s gross domestic
product. Nissan is making a second
attempt in the Pakistani market. In the
past, consumers had witnessed only
one locally-assembled Nissan Sunny.
(Courtesy Dawn)
Suzuki announces fresh
hike in prices
Barring Meh ran VX and Mehran VXR,
Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PS-
MCL) gave the first shock of new year
to the consumers by increasing prices
of motorbikes and four wheelers
by Rs5,000-8,000 and Rs30,000-
40,000, res pec tively, effective from 1 st
January, 2019.
The price jump in im por ted vehicles
ranges between Rs100,000-322,000.
The new price of WagonR VXR is
Rs1.124 million and VXL is Rs1.313m,
while Cultus VXR, VXL and AGS are
now priced at Rs1.410m, Rs1.531m
and Rs1.638m respectively.
Swift DLX NV will now carry a price
tag of Rs1.555m and AT NV model
of Rs1.691m. While Bolan,
Cargo Van and Ravi now sell
at Rs854,000, Rs820,000
and Rs776,000, respectively.
APV is now tagged at
Rs3.040m, Ciaz MT
at Rs2.060m, Ciaz AT
at Rs2.200m, Vitara at
Rs3.990m and Jimny JLDX
MT is available at Rs2.393m.
In two wheelers, the prices of
GD-1105 and GS150 have been fixed
at Rs155,000 and Rs162,000, while
new rates of GS150SE and GR150
are Rs180,000 and Rs243,000, respectively.
TRADE CHRONICLE - Jan - Feb . 2019 - Page 42