Chinese automaker BYD has quietly made its mark in Pakistan’s auto market, moving over 2,000 units in just six months. According to Hub Power Company (Hubco), which is spearheading the brand’s local entry, another 500 orders have already been placed for the popular Shark model.
From Imports to Local Manufacturing
At present, BYD cars are arriving as fully built imports, subject to the standard duty structure. But Hubco has bigger plans: a $150 million assembly facility in Gharo, Sindh, that could roll out up to 25,000 vehicles per year once operational. The project is expected to achieve financial close by late 2025, with local production to begin roughly two years after that.
Funding is being arranged on a 60:40 debt-to-equity mix, with backing from both local and international lenders. A term sheet has already been signed, signaling strong financial support behind the venture.
A Different Partnership Model
Interestingly, BYD is not directly investing in the plant. Instead, the project is being pursued as a 50:50 joint venture between Hubco’s subsidiary, Hub Power Holding, and Mega Conglomerate. This structure contrasts with BYD’s usual playbook — in other markets such as Thailand and Brazil, the company prefers to establish wholly owned operations.
Charging Network Rollout
Beyond manufacturing, Hubco also plans to tackle one of Pakistan’s biggest EV bottlenecks: charging infrastructure. The company announced that it will install charging stations every 150–200 kilometers along the Karachi–Peshawar Motorway within the next six months. Thanks to lower-cost Chinese-made chargers, Hubco estimates that a station can be financially viable if just three vehicles use it daily.
Why It Matters
For Pakistan’s auto industry, the entry of a global EV heavyweight like BYD could be a turning point. If the Gharo plant comes online as scheduled, it won’t just reduce reliance on imports — it could also make EVs more affordable and accessible to a wider customer base, while accelerating the development of charging infrastructure nationwide.
