Lahore: Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer “Leyton Auto Group” has announced the establishment of a plant in Punjab to manufacture small electric vehicles. A 15-member delegation led by the company’s general manager met with Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafie Hussain in Lahore, in which details of the project were discussed.
The Minister for Industries assured the delegation of the full support of the Punjab government and informed that facilities such as ten-year income tax exemption and duty-free import of machinery are being provided to investors for setting up plants in special economic zones.
Punjab is rapidly becoming a favorite center of foreign investors, where new investments are not only strengthening the economy but also creating thousands of job opportunities.
It may be recalled that Leyton Auto had filed for bankruptcy in China in 2023 and completed its restructuring in 2024.
According to experts, the company is now looking at Pakistan, especially Punjab, not only as a center for local production but also for exports, because the lowest tariff of 19 percent is applied for exports to the United States. The trend of arrival of Chinese electric vehicles in Pakistan is increasing rapidly.
Brands like BYD, Changan and MG have already established a foothold in the market, while other companies are also considering assembling and production possibilities.
Experts say that in the new era of competition, Japanese and Korean companies will also have to reconsider their strategies. Car manufacturers say that if Chinese vehicles are introduced at a reasonable price, they can quickly capture the market, consumers will be able to get better and cheaper alternative vehicles, while technology transfer, parts manufacturing and the battery industry will be promoted in the local industry.
Experts say that the arrival of Chinese companies will be a harbinger of major changes in the Pakistani auto market. For Punjab, these projects will not only strengthen the industrial base but will also open new doors for employment, technology, and investment.