Indus Motor Company Ltd (IMC) has introduced full model Change of Light Commercial Vehicles and SUV range, Hilux Revo and Fortuner at a ceremony held here on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the IMC Chief Engineer, H Nakajima said that the company took a radical approach to design, travelling across the world including Pakistan to observe and feel road conditions, drive patterns, traffic situations and listen to customers and dealers first hand to develop Hilux and Fortuner.
"With exhaustive research and testing, we have developed the new Hilux and Fortuner with robust, all terrain capability with comfort and stress free driving experience like that of a car," he said. The bigger tougher Hilux started from a new frame, an improved engine, new 6 speed transmission and a longer leaf suspension that offers more efficiency, stress free and comfortable drive, he added. He also briefed the participants about the salient features of the new models.
While commenting on the new launch, The IMC chief executive officer Ali Asghar Jamali said that Pakistan is one of the fastest growing economies in the region and that is a good implication for the auto industry. "If the present optimism persists, we foresee the market touching 350,000 units of demand by 2025, and if new entrants step in the demand may go up to 500,000 units. Pakistan is a Toyota loving nation with a market share of 28 percent, and it is worth pointing out that Pakistan has been the highest Corolla selling nation in Asia Pacific region for six times, he added.
Over the years the local content of our vehicles has grown considerably, from mere 20 percent local cost component in the first car to line off from IMC, to more than 65 percent local cost component presently in Toyota Corolla" he maintained. Talking about the localization efforts, he said that the company with continuous localization, not only saved valuable foreign exchange for the country but also enabled to offer our vehicles at much competitive prices. It is interesting to note that our cars, adjusted for dollar appreciation, cost less today than they did back in 1993," added Jamali.