Record 2,000 BYD units shipment docks at Karachi Port - what it means for Pakistan's EV market

The record delivery points to accelerating appetite for electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, although analysts caution that gaps in charging infrastructure could slow wider uptake.

The arrival was confirmed by Mega Motor Company (MMC), BYD's official partner in Pakistan. It lands at a moment when the country's move towards NEVs is picking up speed, with buyers increasingly drawn to the economic, environmental and technological benefits of electric mobility.

"This growing demand is reflected in the increasing scale of vehicle shipments into the country, reinforcing BYD's commitment to making NEVs more accessible, supporting the broader shift towards a cleaner and more sustainable transportation future,"
BYD said in a statement.

Pakistan's EV sector remains young and fast-changing — shaped by ambitious government policies, a market tilted heavily towards two- and three-wheelers, and persistent hurdles around infrastructure development and consumer adoption.

The vehicles came in aboard the M.V. Grande Shanghai, which berthed last week at Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTML) at Karachi Port. Because the ship carries wheeled cargo on built-in ramps, the cars were simply driven off the deck — no cranes required.

Early demand is real, but the ramp-up may slow

"The recent EV shipments indicate encouraging early consumer acceptance and mark a positive step in Pakistan's transition away from conventional ICE vehicles,"
Osama Naeem, investment analyst at FRIM Ventures, told Business Recorder.

In his view, the shift lines up with Pakistan's longer-term goals: cutting dependence on imported fuels, relieving pressure on the external account, and bringing down carbon emissions. He cautioned, however, that the pace of EV adoption is likely to moderate going forward.

So far, Naeem shared, "early adopters have largely been urban users with predictable driving patterns and limited concerns over charging infrastructure. Broader mass-market adoption may be constrained by inadequate charging infrastructure, the absence of a well-developed secondary ecosystem for maintenance and repairs, and concerns over resale values."

Menka Kirpalani, Equity Research Analyst at Arif Habib Limited, read the shipment as a sign that demand for BYD EVs in Pakistan has outrun the company's own early forecasts.

"Until local assembly begins, expected by the end of this year, BYD is likely meeting this demand through CBU (Completely Built Up) imports, with large-volume shipments helping clear early booking backlogs," she said.

By her estimate, EVs currently account for roughly 4-5% of Pakistan's auto market.

RoRo shipping, for context, is one of the most efficient ways to move vehicles by sea: cars, trucks and heavy machinery are driven straight onto the vessel over built-in ramps. Skipping cranes altogether makes it considerably quicker — and frequently cheaper — than container shipping.

CBU imports expose a tariff problem

While analysts see CBU imports as a practical bridge to meet surging demand, automotive industry veteran Jameel Asghar contended that leaning on them lays bare distortions in Pakistan's tariff regime — one he says actively discourages local manufacturing.

"This is precisely what the industry has been warning about," Asghar said.

Spelling out the duty math, he explained: "Under the Finance Act 2026-27, CBU cars under 800-850cc now attract a minimum customs duty of just 30%, while a local assembler importing CKD kits to build that same car pays 32% - and if that assembler sources parts locally instead, the duty on those localised parts runs up to 46%."

The upshot, he said: "This means Pakistan's tax regime now makes it more economical to import a fully assembled car than to build one domestically. That is not a market outcome, it is a policy design flaw."

Industry estimates he cited suggest millions of jobs, along with industrial investment, are on the line if this inverted structure goes uncorrected.

"The government needs to correct this inverted tariff structure immediately and realign it with its own 'Made in Pakistan' policy, before the damage becomes irreversible."

Policy support: the 1% tax extension and what comes next

Turning to recent government steps to push EV adoption, Kirpalani noted that the 1% tax on the import and sale of EVs has already been extended for another year — a measure that has been a key driver of adoption.

"Extending this incentive over the medium term would provide greater policy certainty for both consumers and manufacturers. In addition, expanding the public charging network, offering preferential financing options, and encouraging local EV manufacturing would further accelerate EV adoption in Pakistan," she said.

BYD: a milestone for consumer confidence

Commenting on the shipment's arrival, Danish Khaliq, Vice President - Sales & Strategy at BYD Pakistan – MMC, said the milestone captures both the rising confidence of Pakistani consumers in NEVs and the growing momentum behind Pakistan's transition to sustainable mobility.

"This shipment marks an important step in enhancing vehicle availability and reinforces our commitment to ensuring customers receive their vehicles in a timely and reliable manner. As demand continues to grow, we remain focused on delivering an exceptional ownership experience through world-class products, dependable after-sales support, and an expanding charging network that gives customers the confidence to embrace electric mobility across Pakistan."

Lei Jian, Country Head, BYD Pakistan, added: "Pakistan is an important market in BYD's global growth journey, and we remain committed to supporting its transition towards cleaner transportation by introducing world-class NEVs and strengthening our presence in the country."

The consignment's delivery by RoRo vessel is itself a reminder of how much scale and efficiency modern automotive logistics can deliver.

---

Reworded from the original Business Recorder report https://www.brecorder.com/news/40430881 published July 20, 2026, by Ali Ahmed. All facts, figures and direct quotations preserved unchanged.