Electric bike demand rises as fuel prices climb

KARACHI: Pakistan’s auto market is seeing renewed movement as higher petrol prices push consumers towards electric two-wheelers, while some manufacturers are also assessing new vehicle offerings for the local market.

In a filing to the stock exchange, Millat Tractors Ltd said that one of its group companies was examining the feasibility of producing electric bikes in Pakistan. The company made the statement in response to market speculation about its possible entry into the segment, adding that the matter was still at an early stage.

The rise in petrol prices has led to stronger demand for electric scooters and bikes, creating shortages in parts of the market and prompting the appearance of on money on certain models. Social media reports said some electric bike assemblers received a very strong consumer response, with some companies said to have sold more than 15,000 units in April, while others reportedly sold around 5,000 units.

However, bike sector expert Mohammad Sabir Sheikh challenged those figures and said that more than 30,000 electric bikes and scooters were sold across the country during March and April. He said assemblers had opened more letters of credit over the last 15 to 20 days to bring in parts and accessories in response to the increase in demand.

According to Mr Sheikh, limited availability had also led to on money ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 on some popular models. He said the trend could shift if petrol prices fell back to levels seen before the conflict, but added that expensive fuel had at least improved public awareness of electric bikes.

New models under consideration

Chery Master Pakistan is also considering the introduction of two to three new models in the domestic market. The vehicles under review include the Tiggo 4 HEV, QQ BEV and Tiggo V, indicating the company’s interest in hybrid, electric and multi-purpose mobility options.

The company, brought to Pakistan by Master Auto Engineering of the Master Group, signalled the possible launch of these models after taking part in Auto China 2026. Chery Master Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Samir Malik said Pakistan remained an important growth market for Chery’s advanced mobility technologies.

He said the company was evaluating products that matched local driving conditions, consumer expectations and long-term mobility trends.

At Auto China 2026, Chery displayed the QQ BEV, a compact electric vehicle with a range of up to 410 km. The company presented it as an affordable urban mobility option, particularly for congested cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Chery Master Pakistan has already rolled out a locally assembled plug-in hybrid SUV lineup comprising the Tiggo 9 PHEV, Tiggo 8 PHEV and Tiggo 7 PHEV.

Suzuki Fronx prices announced

Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd has also announced introductory prices for the newly launched Suzuki Fronx crossover utility vehicle variants. The Suzuki Fronx GL MT has been priced at Rs5.999 million, the GL 4AT at Rs6.099 million, the GLX 6AT Hybrid (mono tone) at Rs6.299 million and the GLX 6AT Hybrid (two tone) at Rs6.374 million.

The developments come as the auto sector responds to changing consumer preferences linked to fuel costs, with electric two-wheelers drawing greater attention and manufacturers reviewing hybrid and electric options for the Pakistani market.