The Post reported that due to increase in production cost, dealers of both foreign and locally manufactured motorcycles have made an increase of PKR 400 to PKR 1,500 in the prices of motorbikes in Pakistan.
Japanese bikes manufacturing companies raised prices of their brands Honda and Yamaha following levy of freight, forwarding and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority while some Chinese bike makers also enhanced the prices to rising cost of material and parts. The price of Honda CD 70 CC has been revised upward to PKR 50,900 form PKR 50,500 and Honda CG 125 Standard to PKR 70,900 form PKR 69,900 while Honda 125 Delux with disc brakes is priced at PKR 76,900 from PKR 75,900.
According to a Honda motorcycle dealer Mr Shaukat Ali, the recent surge in bike prices was due to freight and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority levy by the government. He added that "Hike in petroleum prices is another factor which forced us to raise prices of our bikes."
The entry of Chinese motorcycles in Pakistan’s local market a few years ago had coerced the Japanese assemblers to reduce their prices to keep their market shares. China bikes are priced at PKR 34,000 to PKR 35,000 as compared to PKR 50,900 of Honda CD 70.
Meanwhile, makers of bikes like Eagle, Royal, Geo, Road Prince, New Asia, Ravi and Lazer have increased price following escalating prices of iron and steel and other necessary accessories. Assemblers said that in the wake of hike in cost of production, it has become almost impossible to maintain prices of bikes at previous level.
