Following price hikes by other automakers, Kia has also revised the prices of its hybrid models in Pakistan. The increase is attributed to the higher sales tax imposed on hybrid vehicles rather than a manufacturer-driven price hike. The sales tax on hybrid models, which was previously set at 8.5% or 12.75%, has now been increased to 25%, resulting in higher vehicle prices.
According to the details, KIA has officially unveiled new prices for the Sportage L HEV and Sorento HEV/PHEV following a 25% GST hike. The Sportage L FWD HEV has become Rs. 900,000 more expensive, increasing from Rs. 11.299 million to Rs. 12.199 million.
The Sportage L AWD HEV has increased by Rs. 1.059 million, rising from Rs. 12.240 million to Rs. 13.299 million. Meanwhile, the Sorento FWD HEV is now Rs. 1 million more expensive at Rs. 16.299 million, up from Rs. 15.299 million. The Sorento AWD HEV has seen the biggest increase among the models with comparable previous prices. Its price has risen by Rs. 1.2 million, from Rs. 16.699 million to Rs. 17.899 million.
Kia is the latest automaker to revise the prices of its hybrid models following the increase in sales tax. Before Kia, Toyota, Honda, Chery, Suzuki, and Hyundai had also raised the prices of their hybrid vehicles in response to the tax changes.
It is important to note that these recent price increases are not manufacturer-driven. Instead, they result from the higher sales tax imposed on hybrid vehicles, with automakers adjusting their prices to reflect the new tax rate.