Assemblers raise e-bike prices as demand grows

KARACHI: Amid rising demand due to a sharp increase in petrol prices, electric bike assemblers have raised their prices by Rs5,000. The assemblers attribute the increase to higher sea freight costs, rising logistics expenses in transporting imported parts from Karachi seaport to factories, and elevated transportation costs caused by soaring diesel prices. Some assemblers implemented the new prices from April 3, while others will make them effective from April 10. Following the hike, prices of electric bikes with different battery ranges (graphene and lithium) and motors now range between Rs125,000 and Rs350,000. An assembler in its letter informed dealers that goods transporters have raised their rates by 30 per cent. However, the Transporters of Goods Association announced a 60pc increase in fares following the surge in diesel prices, calling the hike necessary to offset transportation costs and maintain the supply chain. They also urged importers and exporters to ensure uninterrupted operations. Attribute hike to higher sea freight, logistics and fuel costs Bike sector expert Mohammad Sabir Sheikh said the market is changing and many people are shifting to electric bikes, anticipating a petrol shortage in the wake of the Middle East war. Electric bikes will dominate if the conflict intensifies and petrol becomes even more expensive. Consumers who previously hesitated now feel relieved with electric bikes, which offer significant savings for both the mind and the pocket, despite issues such as mediocre resale value and low road clearance, especially on Karachi’s poor road infrastructure, he added. Sabir Sheikh was of the opinion that once electric bikes achieve higher sales volumes, their resale value is expected to improve. He claimed that high demand has caused a shortage of electric bikes, which has slightly slowed sales of petrol-driven bikes. He observed that even owners of expensive cars and SUVs prefer petrol-driven bikes for daily use, as four-wheelers are costly to operate amid high petrol prices. Recently, an electric bike assembler’s sales team celebrated selling over 7,000 units in March alone, marking a milestone for the company. Sales of petrol-driven bikes in Pakistan have remained robust during the first eight months of FY26, but the March figures from the Pakistan Automotive Manufac­turers Associa­tion will provide a clearer picture of the market trend amid rising prices and the shift towards electric bikes. Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2026

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