Thatta Cement to sell affordable electric cars in Pakistan, importing small EVs from China first

Thatta Cement Company is moving into electric cars. Its board has approved setting up a wholly owned subsidiary that will first import small, affordable electric cars from China as completely built-up (CBU) units, the company told the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Thursday, 5 November, ProPakistani reported.

What Thatta Cement has said

• Vehicle: a new, wholly owned subsidiary, approved by the board
• Segment: the mass market, with "affordable, compact and small" EVs, rather than premium models
• Supply: fully built cars imported from China at first, with local assembly and "other related activities" possible later
• Investment: not disclosed
• Brand, models, prices and launch date: not announced

The company said Pakistan's EV market is growing as buyers take more interest in electric cars and more brands arrive, helped by government incentives and tax concessions, and that entering early would let it build a lasting business.

Where it would fit in Pakistan's EV market

The small, cheap end is where Pakistan's EV choice is thinnest. For comparison, Chery's small Q electric car launched in September at Rs 5,554,000. Compare current list prices on our car prices in Pakistan page.

Two things will decide whether an imported budget EV can compete:

1. Duties and tax on CBU imports. Fully built imports pay higher duty than locally assembled cars, and the IMF has pressed for 18% sales tax on electric cars. The new auto policy, still being finalised, will set the terms.
2. Running costs. Whether home charging beats petrol depends on your electricity slab. Compare the two with our fuel cost calculator and electricity bill calculator.