Changan Plans to Launch Two Electric Cars in Pakistan

• Changan plans to introduce its Deepal S07 SUV and L07 Sedan EV models soon.
• Syed Shabbiruddin discussed plans to bring one of these EV brands to Pakistan.
• Obstacles to EV adoption in Pakistan involve regulatory barriers and charging station pricing concerns.

Master Changan Motors Limited (MCML) plans to introduce its well-known electric vehicle (EV) brand, the Deepal S07 SUV and L07 Sedan models, in the upcoming months. Although the company has yet to provide official confirmation, a senior executive suggested the imminent launch of an electric vehicle but did not disclose details regarding the specific model.

As part of the ambitious Vast Ocean Plan, Changan, the parent company of MCML, has introduced three unique electric vehicle brands: Avatr, Deepal, and Nevo, each designed to meet the needs of various customer groups.

[caption id="attachment_1047063" align="alignnone" width="640"] Changan Plans to Launch Two Electric Cars in Pakistan[/caption]

Syed Shabbiruddin, Director of Sales and Marketing at MCML, discussed the company's strategic vision, indicating intentions to soon introduce one of these electric vehicle brands into the Pakistani market.

Those familiar with the developments disclosed that MCML is in the final stages of preparation for launching the Deepal S07, a flexible mid-size crossover SUV, and the Deepal L07, a stylish fastback sports sedan, both intricately designed by Deepal, Changan's electric vehicle subsidiary.

By collaborating with industry leaders Huawei and CATL, Changan has developed an EV-focused platform. Recently, they introduced the Deepal L07 sedan and Deepal S07 SUV in Thailand, a market similar to Pakistan in terms of right-hand drive preferences.

[caption id="attachment_1047065" align="alignnone" width="640"] Changan Plans to Launch Two Electric Cars in Pakistan[/caption]

Shabbiruddin expressed confidence in the potential of electric vehicles, highlighting factors like increasing demand due to Pakistan's youthful population, which is expected to require an additional 360,000 vehicles by 2030. Additionally, the decreasing cost of EV batteries, projected to fall below $99/kWh by 2027, is anticipated to drive widespread adoption worldwide.

However, he highlighted the challenges facing EV adoption in Pakistan, including regulatory obstacles like the classification of EVs according to battery capacity, which inadvertently discourages certain models. Additionally, strict price regulations at charging stations present a barrier to investment in charging infrastructure, impeding the sector's growth.

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To overcome these challenges, Shabbiruddin suggested adjusting the classification criteria to incentivize all types of pure EVs. He also proposed advocating for policy changes to ease financing and subsidize interest rates for EV purchases.

Moreover, he emphasized the significance of improving charging station profitability and launching extensive awareness campaigns on EV battery handling and storage procedures.