Pakistan to have hybrid cars by end of 2014

Ruba SEZ Group, one of Pakistan’s biggest investors mainly in the field of automobiles, tyres and tubes, has announced to launch 800 cc hybrid cars in Pakistan by the end of 2014. This arrival will revolutionise the automobile sector in the country since the car has the capability to run 400 km on a single battery charge of eight hours. At current rates, it will cost consumers 20 paisa per km, The Technology Times Reported. “Our plan is to produce 50,000 small hybrid cars initially. We will expand our capacity based on consumer demand. We have 70 percent equity in the project while 30 percent equity comes from Shifieng Group, the largest automobile producer in China,” said Ruba SEZ Group President Shah Faisal Afridi. He also said the company had already introduced the first EURO II compliant tractor in Pakistan. Despite better and clean technology, its price is the same as that of tractors already being manufactured in the country. “In the first year, we expect to market 3,000 tractors on low localisation. However, within a year, we aim to achieve 80 percent localisation and increase production capacity to 15,000 units,” said Faisal. The company aims to increase its capacity to 40,000 units in the next few years and target export markets, he added.