Pakistani, Chinese firms sign deal to boost electric vehicle production

Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024. (AFP/File)
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  • The Pakistani firm will develop vehicles with the help of Chinese expertise for domestic sales and exports
  • Agreement will help bring advanced electric vehicle technology to Pakistan, provide sustainable mobility

ISLAMABAD: A leading Chinese automotive company signed an agreement with a Pakistani firm this week to introduce advanced electric vehicle (EV) technology in Pakistan and scale up domestic production, state media reported on Tuesday.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on February 22 in Beijing between Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (LAUNCH) and Yousuf Dewan Companies (YDC), a pioneer in EV assembly in Pakistan.
The deal is part of broader cooperation between Pakistan and China in technology and industrial development, following recent efforts to enhance investment and collaboration in the automotive sector.
YDC, which has been active in Pakistan’s automobile industry, will work with LAUNCH, a Chinese firm specializing in EV technology, to develop vehicles for Pakistan using LAUNCH’s expertise in design and innovation.
The agreement also includes setting up a completely knocked-down (CKD) assembly operation for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), producing both right-hand drive and left-hand drive models for domestic sales and exports.
“This agreement marks a significant step toward bringing advanced electric vehicle (EV) technology to Pakistan and promoting sustainable mobility solutions in the region,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“The cooperation includes the creation of a technology partnership focused on EV innovation, battery life cycle management and recycling solutions, as well as exploring a joint venture for manufacturing and scaling BEV production in Pakistan,” it added.
The partnership is expected to drive EV adoption in Pakistan and contribute to the country’s sustainable energy and mobility goals, aligning with broader government efforts to promote clean transportation.