More competition to amp up electric vehicles adoption

Auto sector players are optimistic about China’s BYD entering Pakistan in collaboration with Hub Power Company Ltd (Hubco) to locally assemble electric vehicles (EVs), which could benefit exports. “[The] Entry of BYD in Pakistan should be looked at from a global perspective instead of [a] regional one,” GM Marketing Division, MG JW Automobiles Syed Asif Ahmed told Dawn from Lahore. He said China will focus on other potential markets for EVs after restrictions in North America and Europe. Turkiye has already imposed a 30 per cent duty to protect its EV brand TOGG, while South America plans to follow the duty curbs. He added that India has already shunned Chinese investment. Far East Asia, Australia and the Middle East are currently attractive alternatives. “Pakistan can benefit from this global shift by converting its internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric cars, thus reducing fuel bills,” Asif advised.