EV bike demand grows in Karachi, but potholes remain a roadblock

Karachi’s deteriorating road infrastructure is emerging as an obstacle to the city’s growing electric motorcycle market, with industry players saying rising fuel prices and lower maintenance costs are drawing commuters towards EV bikes, but pothole-ridden roads continue to discourage wider adoption.

The number of electric motorcycle dealerships has increased rapidly across Karachi, particularly on Akbar Road, the city’s main motorcycle market, as commuters seek relief from soaring fuel costs. Dealers, however, say supply shortages persist, while manufacturers continue to prioritise deliveries to Punjab, where demand is stronger and road conditions are comparatively better.

Speaking to Business Recorder, auto and motorcycle analyst and Akbar Road dealer Muhammad Sabir Shaikh said demand for electric motorcycles has outpaced supply, with assemblers prioritising deliveries to Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Gujrat and other Punjab cities, where demand is estimated to be three times higher.

He said Karachi—the country’s largest city—has witnessed a rapid expansion in EV dealerships, with more than 25 showrooms now operating on Akbar Road alone and around 200 across the city. Most leading EV brands have between three and six dealerships in Karachi. However, despite the growing presence of showrooms, the city ranks only fifth or sixth nationwide in EV adoption, largely because Punjab’s comparatively better road infrastructure has accelerated the shift to electric motorcycles.

Shaikh said 75 assemblers applied for EDB production certificates and more than 60 received certificates while some are in the process of application.

Speaking about increasing EV bike showrooms in Karachi, VLEKTRA’s founder and CEO Syed Raza Mohsin said, “Yes and the numbers back this up. Akbar Road is a good barometer and dealers are actively creating space for EVs. A petrol motorcycle owner spends a good chunk of their monthly income on fuel, and with petrol prices hike, switching to electric cuts running costs drastically. Maintenance is a fraction of a combustion engine’s, since there’s no oil changes, no clutch, no exhaust system to maintain. That being said, EV adoption in Lahore or other Punjab cities is still ahead of Karachi’s.”

He said Karachi’s deteriorating road infrastructure remains a major challenge, as the city’s roads were not designed to handle the current volume of traffic.

Mohsin emphasised the government needs sustained investment in road resurfacing, better drainage so roads don’t wash away every monsoon.

“This is a multi-year infrastructure commitment, not something that gets fixed with an announcement.”

On EV adoption, Sindh has made a move with the Pink Bike Distribution Programme through the Sindh Mass Transit Authority, giving subsidised electric scooters to women.

“I’d like to see it expand in multiple ways such as waive or reduce the registration and token tax specifically for EVs,” he said. “This is something we think about constantly. The middle class commuter isn’t a niche for us, it’s our core market. Most of the industry still relies on imported batteries and motors so every currency swing hits the customer. We are already localising components, and by 2027 we’ll be manufacturing our own batteries and motors domestically which insulates pricing from import shocks for good.”

Commenting on resale value of EV bikes, Mohsin termed that a fair concern.

“Beyond range and speed, one of the most common questions we hear from prospective buyers is ‘What will this bike be worth in three years?’ That’s exactly why we introduced our buyback programme. Customers can sell their motorcycle back to us and receive a value adjusted for normal wear and tear. It removes the uncertainty of finding a private buyer in a market where used EVs are still gaining trust. Instead of researching depreciation curves or negotiating with strangers online, customers know upfront what to expect. This also makes it easier for riders to upgrade to newer models over time,” he said.