Pakistan’s automotive industry is up for a paradigm shift. It has been raining SUVs since Kia-Lucky Motors launched Sportage. This was followed by Hyundai-Nishat’s Tucson, MG ZS and Proton X-70.
The ingress of a slew of compact SUVs into the market bridges the price gap between sedans like Civic, City and Corolla and presents an opportunity for the users of such cars to ameliorate their status. However, the dilemma with this changeover is its appeal to the elite. It portrays a perpetual lack of interest on the part of automobile producers in catering to the relatively less affluent socioeconomic class, which has been forced into using expensive, watered-down vehicles.