Lucky Motor, the authorized assembler and distributor of KIA vehicles in Pakistan, is making a bold move into the electric vehicle (EV) market with plans to introduce a lineup of electric SUVs, including the flagship KIA EV9. This development signifies a major step in Pakistan’s transition toward environmentally friendly transportation solutions.
Muhammad Faisal, CEO of Lucky Motor, announced that the KIA EV9, the company’s premium electric SUV, will soon debut in Pakistan. The company also plans to launch the compact KIA EV3 in the near future. These electric models will be imported as completely built units (CBUs), catering to the growing local demand for sustainable vehicles.
This follows the successful October 2024 launch of the KIA EV5, which has already been delivered to a significant number of buyers. The EV5 is available in two variants: the long-range Earth model, offering a range of 620 km on a single charge and priced at Rs23 million, and the shorter-range Air model, with a range of 480 km and priced at Rs18.5 million.
Faisal noted that the primary buyers of the EV5 include corporate executives and business owners from urban hubs like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. While the cost of electric vehicles remains higher than that of traditional cars, they are increasingly viewed as status symbols in the local market.
The government has been actively promoting the use of electric vehicles, with plans to establish 3,500 EV charging stations in collaboration with a Chinese partner. However, Faisal expressed skepticism about the government’s ambitious goal of making electric vehicles account for 30% of total vehicle sales by 2030, estimating a more realistic market share of 10% by that time.
Lucky Motor’s venture into the EV sector aligns with the global trend toward greener transportation and represents an effort to meet the demand for sustainable mobility in Pakistan’s evolving automotive market.
