Azeem Ahmed Khan

Leading Chinese and Pakistani companies have begun entering the domestic two-wheeler industry to introduce their latest lines of electric scooters and motorcycles at affordable prices.

Yadea, the world’s leading electric two-wheeler Chinese brand, is committed to promoting electric vehicles in Pakistan by launching standardised scooters and boosting buyers’ confidence, the company’s national sales manager Zaigham Aziz said. “We aim to capture a 20% market share of electric two-wheelers in Pakistan by the end of this calendar year,” he said in an interview with WealthPK. “Once our sales volume increases, we plan to localise production, which will further benefit Pakistan’s economy,” he added.

Since establishing its presence in Pakistan in January 2024, Yadea is receiving positive feedback for its scooter models, he said. The company, which has surpassed 100 million two-wheeler sales globally, has maintained its position as the top global seller for seven consecutive years, he added. “Purchasing an electric vehicle is a win-win situation for both the buyers and the planet Earth,” Aziz said, adding that Yadea is committed to offering environmentally friendly technology and a range of money-saving products in Pakistan.

He pointed out that in the past, many companies entered the Pakistani market with poor planning and substandard products. “These companies operated for one or two years before exiting, which undermined customer confidence,” he claimed. Aziz said when petrol prices surged past Rs300 per litre in Pakistan a few years ago, many consumers turned to electric scooters, only to face disappointment. Some assemblers sold unbranded bikes made with substandard materials, such as low-quality batteries, controllers, and motors, and there was a lack of spare parts.

As a result, customers had to experience significant quality and durability issues, he added. “But Yadea is here to stay,” he emphasised, adding that the company offers standardised products with a two-year battery warranty, ensuring up to 1,000 charge cycles, along with easy availability of spare parts. Branded scooters use high-quality materials and Graphene batteries, making them reliable and affordable. These features will boost customer confidence in Pakistan’s emerging market,” he added.

Currently, many two-wheeler branded companies are operating in Pakistan, including Tailg, Aima, Benling, HiSpeed, Revoo, Evee, Union Star, and Crown Group. Yadea’s national sales manager is confident that the dynamics of the two-wheeler market will change in the coming years in Pakistan with e-bikes and scooters capturing a significant share. “As fuel prices further rise and the number of satisfied customers increase, electric vehicles are expected to gain popularity as an affordable alternative, helping consumers save on fuel costs,” he added.

The share of petrol-based motorcycles has already shrunk over the past three years in Pakistan from 2.5 million to about 1.7 million, he said. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), two-wheeler is a big market in Pakistan as out of 61% of Pakistani households owning a personal vehicle, 6% own a passenger car with 57% of households owning only a bike, and about 4.5% owning both a motorcycle and a car.

Aziz said that the government is supporting the electric scooter industry through lower sales tax, which has helped keep prices affordable. “Without this support, the electric vehicles prices would have been higher in Pakistan,” he added. He said Pakistan’s heavy reliance on imported oil has been a major burden on its economy. He believed a shift toward electric bikes would help the government conserve foreign exchange by reducing the need for petrol imports for motorcycles, which cost the country about $8 billion annually.

Credit: INP-WealthPk