Porsche all for introducing hybrid cars in Pakistan

[A.Rafay]

LAHORE: A presentation on hybrid cars was held at the Porsche centre in Lahore, aiming to create awareness of hybrid technologies in automobiles.
Porsche Pakistan, which has recently unveiled the new Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, advocated in the presentation that such innovations were a potential solution to the problems of rising fuel costs and environment concerns related to the automobile industry.
“We, as a country, need to embrace hybrid technology,” Porsche Pakistan CEO Abuzar Bukhari remarked during the presentation. “The biggest selling point is that we save money and save the planet.”
Bukhari had privately explained that the reason for hosting the briefing was to help acquaint the public with the new technology being included in hybrid cars, and said he was passionate about promoting them in the Pakistani market.
He said the output of hybrid technology has proven that it can match the performance of comparable non-hybrid cars, as well as being more economical. Bukhari said that current technology has proven that one can save up to 40-50% on fuel while driving a zero-emissions car.
“The hybrid revolution started in California, where, due to government regulations, Toyota Prius changed the automobile industry,” remarked Bukhari. At the time, Prius had generated significant buzz as a number of celebrities embraced the car as something better for the environment.
He claimed that hybrid technology would be a game changer for the automobile industry in Pakistan. The challenge is that imported cars have been slapped with obscene duties and tariffs due to the dominance of local automobile manufacturers, he observed.
“The thing I don’t understand is that the local car industry turns profits every year, and yet they cry over imports claiming the local market will die,” observed Bukhari. “There is a significant difference in imported and domestically-assembled cars. The people deserve the better option.”
“A Porsche Cayenne with duties is priced at Rs10 million, but will cost consumers only Rs4.5 million without them,” he told the gathering.
Bukhari concluded the presentation by explaining that the environmental benefits of hybrid technology could be quantified, and that for a fuel-strapped nation, it was the duty of the government to find ways to encourage the technology amongst all sectors of the automobile industry.
“We need to promote high-efficiency cars that can reduce each person’s fuel bill. There is enough data to show that fuel costs can be reduced by as much as 50%,” he said.

Porsche all for introducing hybrid cars in Pakistan – The Express Tribune

 

[Argus Panoptes]

Anybody rich enough to buy a Porsche in Pakistan won't be exactly worried about fuel economy, I could guess. It is a good step nonetheless.

 

[ShahidT]

so true. would be better if a more affordable version of smart car or some japanese hybrids were brought onto the market. porsce is meant for unrestrained performance and is out of reach for the middle class, let alone a more expensive hybrid version of the same which kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

so true. would be better if a more affordable version of smart car or some japanese hybrids were brought onto the market. porsce is meant for unrestrained performance and is out of reach for the middle class, let alone a more expensive hybrid version of the same which kind of defeats the purpose.

A good choice for a hybrid in Pakistan's market would be the Toyota Prius.

 

[Jango]

A good choice for a hybrid in Pakistan's market would be the Toyota Prius.

Already selling like hotcakes, especially in Islamabad and Lahore.

 

[haviZsultan]

Porche in Pakistan... imagine. Has anyone even seen a Cayenne S in Karachi. Just asking. :p

 

[EagleEyes]

Most of these cars are for the name only. Bhala in mein kya aesi cheez hai jo toyota ki koi gari mein nahin?

Lets say Toyota Highlander?

 

[Jango]

Porche in Pakistan... imagine. Has anyone even seen a Cayenne S in Karachi. Just asking. :p

Don't know about Karachi, but quite a few are in Lahore.

 

[Windjammer]

Porche in Pakistan... imagine. Has anyone even seen a Cayenne S in Karachi. Just asking. :p

Dude, Porsche opened it's showroom in Lahore back in 2006 and in the first month the dealer sold thirty cars.

The German sports car heralded its arrival in Pakistan last month with a glitzy ceremony at one of Lahore's most exclusive clubs. Abukhar Bokhari, the importer, has already sold 30. "Business is booming," he said.

"It's the best it's ever been," said Asif Kamal, an industrialist who has just bought an investment bank and is building a 20-storey office in downtown Lahore. "There's never been so much money and so many opportunities."

To celebrate, he bought a Porsche Cayman S for £72,000, a car costing £30,000 more than it would in the UK due to the import tariffs. "It's a nice toy, just for fun," he said, adding that a Rolls-Royce concession had found two customers even before it had opened.

 

[Windjammer]

Most of these cars are for the name only. Bhala in mein kya aesi cheez hai jo toyota ki koi gari mein nahin?

Lets say Toyota Highlander?

Na Boss, jub jawani diwani thi....i had one of these beauties in petrol blue scheme.....turn the ignition, it was like a bomb going off...put your foot on the gas and you could feel the "G" force pushing you into seat.....besides these toys are babe magnet.

 

[Jango]

Most of these cars are for the name only. Bhala in mein kya aesi cheez hai jo toyota ki koi gari mein nahin?

Lets say Toyota Highlander?

Now you're talking like my mother Webby...

She says, gari gari hai, chahay Mercedes ho ya FX!

 

[Argus Panoptes]

Already selling like hotcakes, especially in Islamabad and Lahore.

Those are old JDM imports. I was indicating the Prius as a good choice for local assembly to reduce costs for the buying public.

Porche in Pakistan... imagine. Has anyone even seen a Cayenne S in Karachi. Just asking. :p

Don't know about Karachi, but quite a few are in Lahore.

There was a time when you could see lots of Cayennes, and other nice cars, all over Defence in Lahore. Now most of those cars are not being used openly due to the bad law and order situation. Once that improves, they will come back on the roads.

 

[aakash_2410]

Good development.

But why would you buy Porche Hybrid?

That totally negates the whole point of having a Porche! What's a Porche without V-10/V-12?

If you want a Hybrid buy Toyota Prius?

 

[Jango]

Those are old JDM imports. I was indicating the Prius as a good choice for local assembly to reduce costs for the buying public.

Yup...there is a whole section of society that wants to get these cars that are much better than those ridiculously priced Corollas and City's.

There was a time when you could see lots of Cayennes, and other nice cars, all over Defence in Lahore. Now most of those cars are not being used openly due to the bad law and order situation. Once that improves, they will come back on the roads.

When I visited lahore a couple of months back, I noticed a increase in luxury cars. Latest model 911's, Mercedes, Range rovers, BMW, you name it.

There is a petrol pump in defence which has a rent a car facility (Butt rent a car i think), and they had Rolls Royce's and some limos as well.

 

[Sugarcane]

Porsche & luxury cars are for elite - So no need to lift duties, the one who want to buy they will buy at any cost and they can also afford fuel. Hybrid cars for common people should be introduced with local manufacturing facility (can be started from assembling)


BTW - How hybrid cars work? Do we need to charge, do we need to charge them?